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DB Designer VS SQL Server Management Studio

Compare DB Designer VS SQL Server Management Studio and see what are their differences

DB Designer logo DB Designer

fabFORCE.net Database Tools

SQL Server Management Studio logo SQL Server Management Studio

SSMS is a software application that is used for configuring, managing, and administering all...
  • DB Designer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-10
  • SQL Server Management Studio Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14

DB Designer features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    DB Designer offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced database designers.
  • Visual Modeling
    It provides visual tools for creating and editing entity-relationship diagrams, which can help users better understand and organize their databases.
  • Integration with MySQL
    DB Designer integrates seamlessly with MySQL, allowing users to directly transfer their designs to a database server.
  • Free to Use
    As freeware, DB Designer provides a cost-effective solution for database design without the need for a subscription or purchase.

Possible disadvantages of DB Designer

  • Limited Support and Updates
    The software lacks regular updates and comprehensive customer support, which can be a concern for long-term usability and troubleshooting.
  • Compatibility Issues
    DB Designer may not be compatible with some newer database technologies or operating systems, limiting its applicability in some environments.
  • Lacks Advanced Features
    Compared to other advanced database design tools, DB Designer may lack certain advanced features that are needed for complex database environments.
  • Learning Curve
    While user-friendly, new users might still face a learning curve to fully utilize all functionalities effectively, especially without official support.

SQL Server Management Studio features and specs

  • Comprehensive Interface
    SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) provides a comprehensive and user-friendly interface for managing SQL Server instances. It includes features like query execution, database design, and server management all in one tool.
  • Intelligent Code Completion
    SSMS has IntelliSense, which helps with code completion, syntax highlighting, and real-time error checking, improving developer productivity and reducing errors.
  • Integration with Azure
    SSMS seamlessly integrates with Azure SQL Database and Azure Synapse Analytics, enabling users to manage cloud-based databases and data warehouses effectively.
  • Built-in Performance Tuning Tools
    SSMS includes built-in tools for performance tuning and troubleshooting, such as Database Engine Tuning Advisor and Extended Events, helping DBAs optimize database performance.
  • Security Management
    The tool provides robust security management features, including user authentication, authorization, and activity monitoring to ensure data protection.
  • Free to Use
    SSMS is free to download and use, providing a cost-effective solution for managing SQL Server instances without additional software expenses.

Possible disadvantages of SQL Server Management Studio

  • Performance Issues
    Users sometimes report that SSMS can be slow or become unresponsive, especially when dealing with large databases or complex queries.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    While comprehensive, the extensive feature set of SSMS may require a significant investment of time and effort to learn, particularly for beginners.
  • Limited Support for Non-Microsoft Databases
    SSMS is primarily designed for SQL Server, which means it has limited support for other database management systems. This can be a drawback for users working in multi-DBMS environments.
  • Resource Intensive
    The application can be resource-intensive, consuming considerable system memory and CPU, which can affect the performance of other applications running on the same machine.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Users have reported encountering bugs and glitches in SSMS, which can disrupt workflow and necessitate workarounds or waiting for updates from Microsoft.
  • Lack of Advanced Collaboration Features
    SSMS lacks advanced collaboration features found in other modern IDEs, such as real-time co-editing and built-in version control system integration, which could be beneficial for development teams.

DB Designer videos

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SQL Server Management Studio videos

SQL Server Management Studio Intro

More videos:

  • Review - Tips and Tricks for Using SQL Server Management Studio Effectively

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DB Designer and SQL Server Management Studio)
Databases
49 49%
51% 51
MySQL Tools
32 32%
68% 68
Database Management
24 24%
76% 76
Database Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SQL Server Management Studio seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

DB Designer mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DB Designer yet. Tracking of DB Designer recommendations started around Mar 2021.

SQL Server Management Studio mentions (2)

  • What should I do?
    (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms) [AdventureWorks Sample Database ]. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Practicing with SQL for free
    Azure is unnecessary. You can use sql server (developer) together with sql server management studio. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DB Designer and SQL Server Management Studio, you can also consider the following products

Navicat Data Modeler - Navicat Data Modeler allows users to create a conceptual model from an existing database and edit the structure of the database easily.

DBeaver - DBeaver - Universal Database Manager and SQL Client.

Longtion Application Builder - Longtion Application Builder is a tool for designing and developing database applications and Web...

Navicat - Powerful database management & design tool for Win, Mac & Linux. With intuitive GUI, user manages MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, SQLite, Oracle & PostgreSQL DB easily.

MySQL Workbench - MySQL Workbench is a unified visual tool for database architects, developers, and DBAs.

SQL Developer - Oracle SQL Developer is a free, development environment that simplifies the management of Oracle Database in both traditional and Cloud deployments.