Stairway to SQLCLR

The possibilities for programming SQL Server platform were greatly enhanced with the addition of the SQLCLR subsystem. This allows code written in any .NET language to be incorporated into your SQL Server instance and called from a stored procedure or function. You can also create your own data types or aggregates for specialized purposes. This Stairway series will teach you how to get started writing your own CLR code and integrating it into SQL Server.

• Stairway to SQLCLR Level 1: What is SQLCLR?

  The first step to using the SQLCLR begins with this overview of what is possible and what is not. Start your journey to decide if this is a tool you can use inside your SQL Server instance.

• Stairway to SQLCLR Level 2: Sample Stored Procedure and Function

  In the second level of our Stairway to SQLCLR, we look at how to enable the SQLCLR in SQL Server. We then build an assembly, store procedure, and a function that can be called from your T-SQL code.

• Stairway to SQLCLR Level 3: Security (General and SAFE Assemblies)

  In the third level of our Stairway to SQLCLR, we look at the various mechanisms in place to help us control Security. In this Level we will focus on SAFE mode and see how secure SQLCLR is by default.

• Stairway to SQLCLR Level 4: Security (EXTERNAL and UNSAFE Assemblies)

  In the fourth level of our Stairway to SQLCLR series we take a detailed look at the EXTERNAL_ACCESS and UNSAFE permission sets. We also explore some differences between using TRUSTWORTHY or an Asymmetric Key.

• Stairway to SQLCLR Level 5: Development (Using .NET within SQL Server)

  This time we take a look at various aspects and limitations of working with SQL Server's CLR that affect what can be done and how to do certain things.

• Stairway to SQLCLR Level 6: Development Tools Intro

  This time we look at the commonly used tools for doing SQLCLR development: Visual Studio (VS), SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), and SQL Server Express LocalDB (LocalDB).

• Stairway to SQLCLR Level 7: Development and Security

  Learn about some Visual Studio features that help with automation, and use them to create an Asymmetric Key and Login.

• Stairway to SQLCLR Level 8: Using Visual Studio to Work around SSDT

  In the final installment of this three-Level series, we use another automation-related feature to do what SSDT doesn't handle natively.