SQL Server 2005 Express and Mac

[Eraserhead]

I'm doing a course next term which involves doing some web development. Unfortunately we've been told that we have to use Windows to do it (specifically Visual Web Developer Express).

Before I bother the lecturer some more to find out the technical details of why Windows is required. Looking through the product page and the course introduction (which is also free of technical jargon), it seems we will probably be doing something with SQL Server 2005 Express.

If there any way to access that natively on the Mac, or am I going to have to bite the bullet and install Windows?

 

[iSee]

SQL Server is Windows only.

I run it all the time under Parallels on my MBP, so you could do that.

A good class will try to be as platform agnostic as possible when it comes to the educational content of the class (well, unless it is a class about a particular product or platform). But they usually need to standardize on a development environment. Otherwise, a lot of attention gets diverted to platform issues rather than the real meat of the class. If eveyone's using the same platform, the prof can have a TA to write up a quick tutorial on getting everything installed and setup correctly and the prof can concentrate on the good stuff.

Professors will usually let you use an alternative platform if:
1. You clear it with them first.
2. It doesn't cause them headaches.
3. It doesn't subvert the educational goals of the class.
4. You show you are willing and able to support the alternate platform yourself.

 

[mozmac]

In school, I've found that if you're on a Mac, you need to pave your own way. Don't expect the professor to come up with a solution for it. They aren't required to provide for you in the way they must provide for the hearing impared. Run parallels and don't cause problems.

 

[Eraserhead]

Thanks for the information guys.

I have no problem with supporting my own platform, its just I couldn't get any technical details out about what exactly we were doing. I am totally cool in supporting myself but I wanted to see what the options were.

 

[Eidorian]

I use Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition just fine in Parallels. It's free and it works just fine for my classes.

Why pay $45 for the full Studio?

 

[Eraserhead]

I use Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition just fine in Parallels. It's free and it works just fine for my classes.

Why pay $45 for the full Studio?

Yeah the software we have to get is free too, but I need to install Windows, which isn't free, and I don't have much HD space either .

 

[Eidorian]

Yeah the software we have to get is free too, but I need to install Windows, which isn't free, and I don't have much HD space either .

I did spend the $11 for Windows XP. Disk space is cheap as well considering th virtual machine doesn't even need to be stored locally.

 

[cr2sh]

VWD is a great tool that Microsoft gives away.. but SQL Express is garbage. You can design with it, build the application.. and then when you get to deployment (or trying to build a real database) you find that all the functions you really want are not possible in Express.

The whole ASP thing is fun.. I like it personally, but I would urge you to avoid even playing with SQL Express.. it's time wasted.