14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is reviewing long term priorities and goals related to the evolution of its data platform. In this regard, the Redmond company is asking for feedback that will serve to put together SQL Server Connectivity customer profiles. The SQL Connectivity Customer Profile Survey is now live, and it is set up to allow Microsoft to plan ahead for the evolution of SQL Server. “Dear SQL Server developers and users: It is this time of the year when we in the SQL Connectivity product team take a step back, review the priorities and goals for the long term and identify areas that will benefit from investments,” reads the introduction of the survey from Raghu Ram, principal group program manager, SQL Connectivity, Database Systems Group, Microsoft.
Obviously, the survey is focused on the future connectivity capabilities of SQL Server, and not the entire data platform. Microsoft is allowing respondents to nominate the top three features that they see as priorities for future releases of SQL Server. Provided that the feedback from customers will coincide, chances are that the features requested might find their way into future releases of the data platform.
When it comes down to application development for SQL Server, Microsoft is interested in which data access technologies are being leveraged in order to develop solutions designed to run on top of the data platform. The Redmond company is also looking to find out which version of the JDBC Driver and the PHP Driver customers are currently using. And there is even a question related to multi-platform connectivity support, as the software giant put it, the importance of connectivity support for Linux/Unix applications to SQL Server.
“We view YOU and your organization as a key stakeholder in this process and would like to gather your inputs in this survey, which should take no more than 5 - 10 minutes and a few other surveys that we will conduct in the next few months. The feedback you provide is very valuable and be rest assured that each and every response will be read and will provide the background for some of the key decisions that we will make that will benefit our user community - developers, DBAs and all those who use SQL Server or are looking for ways to expand the scope of the power of SQL Server within your organizations,” Ram added.