14 DAY TRIAL // The Metro Early Adoption Program for SQL Server codenamed “Denali” is now live on Microsoft Connect. With Metro, Microsoft is attempting to attract the early participation of developers in the development of the next generation of its data platform.
In effect, the Metro Early Adoption Program is an open invitation for devs to start building solutions tailored specifically to SQL Server codenamed “Denali”.
Once on Microsoft Connect, developers interested in participating in the test program will need to share some information about themselves and their company with the software giant.
“We review each nomination that comes in and approve the solutions we think will have the best chance of showcasing SQL Server Denali improvements during the launch wave,” promised Microsoft’s Roger Doherty.
Obviously, by joining the Metro Early Adoption Program for SQL Server codenamed “Denali,” testers will also be able to take advantage of a number of benefits.
Doherty made sure to enumerate some of the goodies that early adopters and Metro participants will be able to enjoy, including:
“• Access to regularly scheduled confidential online meetings with members of the SQL Server evangelism, marketing and engineering teams.
• Access to DeepDive developer labs to do focused work on specific improvements with the help of the SQL Server engineering team.
• Access to beta support.
• Access to high-quality instructor-led training events.
• Access to a dedicated virtual Sandbox environment with a pre-installed, pre-configured fully functional environment to learn and test improvements.”
Those devs that will jump aboard the Metro Early Adoption Program for SQL Server codenamed “Denali” bandwagon will get to test new improvements to the next generation of Microsoft’s data platform, such as a new unified Visual Studio IDE codenamed “Juneau” and Transact-SQL programmability enhancements.
Obviously, the evolution introduced with codenamed “Denali” is not limited to developer improvements, but so far Microsoft is only sharing certain details about the next iteration of SQL Server with the public.
Microsoft SQL Server code-named 'Denali' - Community Technology Preview 1 (CTP1) is available for download here.