Item: SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
Rating: 10
Author: Thom Krystofiak

Overall Satisfaction with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We manage almost everything about our various SQL Server databases using SQL Server Management Studio. We perform all of our manual queries in SQL Server Management Studio, we use it for drafting new functions and stored procedures, we use it to create tables, views, constraints, and triggers, we use it to create SQL Agent jobs and manage them, we use it to examine execution plans,and much more.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Intellisense
Execution plans
SQL Agent management

Cons

I have always been bothered by the way the list of stored procedures in the Object Explorer have dbo prepended, so that you cannot use keystrokes to easily jump to a particular file
Occasionally an open query window loses its connection
It can be slow to open certain files (e.g. when using Script Stored Procedure As)

Return on Investment

SQL Server Management Studio is our go-to tool for almost everything we do with SQL Server. Highly efficient and flexible.
Compared to other alternatives, I would say we save at least 25% of the overall time we need to spend working in SQL Server.

Usability

The tool is great overall, but I have been frustrated by the way long lists of procedures are prepended with dbo to make quick access by keystroke feasible.

Alternatives Considered

DBeaver

SQL Server Management Studio is more seamless and comprehensive, handling just about everything we need to create and manage extensive SQL Server databases. SQL Server Management Studio is tied deeply into SQL Server specifically, vs. DBeaver's mission to be a more universal SQL tool.

Key Insights

Do you think SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)'s feature set?

Yes

Did SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, GitHub

Likelihood to Recommend

The tool is excellent for managing virtually all aspects of SQL Server - multiple servers, databases, hundreds of tables and procedures, dozens of SQL Agent jobs. We have not encountered any situations where it is not appropriate.

Comments

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SQL Server Management Studio is a great all-round tool for SQL Server