SQL Server’s future version: Denali

Currently, the latest SQL Server version is 2008 R2, but Microsoft is already actively planning the next release, currently codenamed Denali. I would guess this new release would become available sometime next year, but of course, schedule is open at this point.

New features planned for the Denali release are better uptime with the AlwaysOn feature, improved query performance especially in interactive applications, even more Business Intelligence (BI) support, and for developers, beyond-relational data types (think spatial, etc.) and above all, the codename "Juneau".

Juneau will be an improved set of developer tools for database applications. Also, Juneau will aim to integrate the experiences of developing for locally-installed SQL Server and SQL Azure. The buzzwords of Juneau are: "Declarative Database Definition, Dynamically Edit Existing Databases, Round-Trip Code Refactoring, and Targeted Database Deployment".

Hopefully we will see a CTP or beta version of Denali soon. Especially the SQL Azure part sounds nice to me.