The Database Edition functionality in Visual Studio 2010 is based on our GDR release. If you have been using the GDR this is what is “new:”

Project Features

• The Data Dude project system is now available in Visual Studio Professional. We did this so developers using Visual Studio Professional could load, edit, build and deploy database projects that were created using Visual Studio Premium or Ultimate. What’s really cool is Visual Studio Professional users can now do declarative database development! Of course, if they want all the cool ALM tools they need to get the Ultimate edition. See the chart below for details about how the various ALM features light up depending on the version of Visual Studio you are using.
• Implemented a new Data-tier Application project type. For more information see this blog post: What is a Visual Studio 2010 Data-tier Application project-

Code Authoring

• T-SQL Editor, IntelliSense and code snippets – We worked with the SQL team to integrate the editor from SQL Server 2008 R2 into Visual Studio 2010
• T-SQL Debugger – We worked with the SQL team to integrate the debugger from SQL Server 2008 R2 into Visual Studio 2010

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Features

The following matrix describes which ALM features are available in which Visual Studio editions and how they behave. Specifically, where it says you may “Execute” a feature in Visual Studio Professional that means you may do not have the ability modify the artifact (for example a Unit Test) but you may execute it.

TFS Build Integration

The Data Dude bits are now installed when you install a TFS Build Agent. You no longer need to install Visual Studio Team System Database Edition on your TFS Build server in order to build database projects. Database projects have first class support in TFS build. You may build, deploy, run SQL static code analysis and database unit tests. Sweet!

Extensibility

This is such a large topic that it will require a series of blog posts. Stay tuned.