A Thought to Bring the SQL Server Management Studio on Mobile

We’re not talking about deploying a database for the mobile using SQL Server Compact rather we’re here by discussing any possibility to bring the SQL Management Studio to the handheld devices entirely or partially. The day when Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android transformed the existing world of handheld devices, everybody is talking about to bring the giant computer applications and facilities to the smartphones, tablets, PDAs, etc. Here, the thought to bring a mammoth sized Server with saber tooth like features to a tiny device sometime seems impossible. However, controlling a large device like 44-inch television using a small remote is the reason of this imagination to use the mammoth like SQL Server Studio on a small-size mobile.

Why SQL Server Management Studio is a Mammoth?

Yes, it’s true for those organizations that’re using it extensively as their backbone. Sometimes SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) consumes a lot of system resources even on the Servers with the latest configuration and often results in a bottleneck situation. That’s why the experts always advise to go with the latest version of SQL Server, Windows Server, and brand new hardware configuration. In order to minimize such chances or to have a lite version, the users often go to the customized installation of SQL Server or try to choose between the Compact and Express editions.

What’s the idea?

The thought of bringing the complete SQL Server Management Studio to mobile may appear to be a process to fit a mammoth in a pocket-sized box. Mammoth can easily break its walls and harm the person carrying the box and set free. However, if we imagine handling an elephant with a hook and controlling a large television through a tiny remote, then there are some possibilities. Therefore, thinking to have a pocket-sized device as a remote control for the mammoth like program may seem feasible to an extent.

What’s the base?

Introduction of the SQL Server Compact and SQL Server Express editions launched by Microsoft is the sole base of this idea. This is more cemented with the extended support of SQL Server 2014 for Windows Azure – cloud based platform. If we can bring some traces (databases) of a server to the mobile, then some procedures to control that server can also be migrated to the mobile using cloud.

An Imaginative Illustration

Instead of exporting the complete SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to the mobile, a small-sized application can be built up to perform the commands. Instead of being a third party program, Microsoft should itself launch a mobile extension for the latest version of SQL Server Management Studio. This is because Microsoft could understand better than anyone could what all is required to offer in the much compact and mobile version of SSMS. This mobile application requires a continuous connection to SQL Server. If some databases are hosted in the Windows Azure or any third party cloud, then the proposed mobile application can remain forever connected to the online databases.

Yes, few actions consume a lot of system resources even on a high-powered server. Such commands can be initiated by the user but has to be executed on the connected server after synchronization. To differentiate whether a command has to be run on mobile or no server, the user may be provided an option always just after typing a command and pressing the Enter key,

“Do you want to execute this command at mobile? Press “Yes” to continue the execution. Press “No” to send the command to the server.”

In addition, if a command is taking too long to execute on mobile and already consumed more than 50 percent of the mobile resources, then it should be automatically shifted to sever with a message,

“This action is consuming more resources than expected; therefore, it’s being shifted to the server. Make sure you’re connected to SQL Server.”

Conclusion

Shifting the complete setup of SQL Server Management Studio to mobile is not possible; however, its minimized form in the shape of a remote control can be easily migrated to the handheld devices. Connected to the few databases of a SQL Server using Windows Azure or other cloud, this proposed mobile application lets users initiate the command and decide automatically or with user input where to execute the command either on the device itself or at the server’s end. Both SQL Server and mobile application should be synchronized automatically either always or at scheduled interval.