Microsoft SQL Server 2017 is the next big step in the data platform history of Microsoft as it brings in the power of R and Python for machine learning and containerization-based deployment on Windows and Linux. Compared to its predecessor, SQL Server 2017 has evolved into Machine Learning with R services for statistical analysis and Python packages for analytical processing. This book prepares you for more advanced topics by starting with a quick introduction to SQL Server 2017’s new features and a recapitulation of the possibilities you may have already explored with previous versions of SQL Server. The next part introduces you to enhancements in the Transact-SQL language and new database engine capabilities and then switches to a completely new technology inside SQL Server: JSON support. We also take a look at the Stretch database, security enhancements, and temporal tables.

Furthermore, the book focuses on implementing advanced topics, including Query Store, columnstore indexes, and In-Memory OLTP. Towards the end of the book, you’ll be introduced to R and how to use the R language with Transact-SQL for data exploration and analysis. You’ll also learn to integrate Python code in SQL Server and graph database implementations along with deployment options on Linux and SQL Server in containers for development and testing.

By the end of this book, you will have the required information to design efficient, high-performance database applications without any hassle.

What you will learn Explore the new development features introduced in SQL Server 2017 Identify opportunities for In-Memory OLTP technology Use columnstore indexes to get storage and performance improvements Exchange JSON data between applications and SQL Server Use the new security features to encrypt or mask the data Control the access to the data on the row levels Discover the potential of R and Python integration Model complex relationships with the graph databases in SQL Server 2017Who this book is for

Database developers and solution architects looking to design efficient database applications using SQL Server 2017 will find this book very useful. In addition, this book will be valuable to advanced analysis practitioners and business intelligence developers. Database consultants dealing with performance tuning will get a lot of useful information from this book as well.

Some basic understanding of database concepts and T-SQL is required to get the best out of this book.

Dejan Sarka Dejan Sarka, MCT and SQL Server MVP located in Ljubljana, Slovenia, is an independent trainer and consultant who focuses on the development of database and business intelligence applications. Besides his projects, he spends around half of his time training and mentoring. He is the founder of the Slovenian SQL Server and .NET Users Group. Dejan is the main author and co-author of many books and courses about databases and SQL Server. He is a frequent speaker at many worldwide events. Miloš Radivojević Miloš Radivojević is a database consultant in Vienna, Austria. He is a Data Platform MVP and specializes in SQL Server for application developers and performance/ query tuning. Currently, he works as a principal database consultant in bwin (GVC Holdings)—the largest regulated online gaming company in the world. Miloš is a cofounder of PASS Austria. He is also a speaker at international conferences and speaks regularly at SQL Saturday events and PASS Austria meetings. William Durkin William Durkin Data Platform Architect for Data Masterminds. He uses his decade of experience with SQL Server to help multinational corporations achieve their data management goals. Born in the UK and now based in Germany, William is a regular speaker at conferences around the globe, a Data Platform MVP, and the founder of the popular SQLGrillen event.