Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Build Flexible and Reliable Data-Driven Applications
More than ever developers are leveraging relational databases to provide a rich end-user experience. Protecting and managing information inside these applications is critical. Microsoft SQL Server Express helps developers build robust and reliable applications by providing a free, easy to use, and robust database. Too often database systems are overly complex for building simple applications. Microsoft Visual Studio® 2005 and SQL Server Express reduce this complexity by providing a simple but powerful development environment for building data-driven applications. Developers can design schemas, add data, and query local databases, all inside the Visual Studio 2005 environment. If developers need more advanced database features, then SQL Server Express can be seamlessly upgraded to more sophisticated versions of SQL Server

Enable Dynamic Web Sites
In today's fast changing world even the most basic Web sites need to be interactive. SQL Server Express and Visual Web Developer provide a simple integrated platform for building dynamic and reliable Web sites. Together these two products provide the tools necessary to build, deploy, and manage Web sites.At the database layer, SQL Server Express includes several features that make it attractive for Web environments. It uses the advanced query optimization engine of SQL Server 2005 to deliver fast performance. In addition, databases can easily be loaded into a hosted environment through the XCopy feature. Native XML support inside the database ensures that your Web environment can easily interoperate with other applications through Web services.
 

Simplify Deployment and Servicing
Supporting and maintaining software is a huge expense for application software developers. An embedded database helps reduce this cost by providing automated tuning and management, automated patching and servicing, and support for embedded setup and installation. SQL Server Express was specifically designed with these goals in mind. Using the core SQL Server 2005 database engine, SQL Server Express can be configured to dynamically tune database parameters to respond to changing usage characteristics. Additionally, software developers do not have to worry about directly deploying database updates because SQL Server Express uses the upcoming Microsoft Update to directly deliver updates to end users. For enterprise users, SQL Server Express easily plugs in to most enterprise management environments with support for both Active Directory® and Microsoft Windows Management Instrumentation®. SQL Server Express also provides support for either silent installs or GUI-based setup and installations. This gives the software developer ultimate control and flexibility over the installation and setup of the embedded database.