SQL 2016 - The Time Has Come!

Microsoft dropped it on us this morning:

Get ready, SQL Server 2016 coming on June 1st

https://media.makeameme.org/created/yes-finally.jpg

I read the article and was pleasantly surprised, although after some consideration it was more like this:

https://i.imgflip.com/4hu4p.jpg

If you haven't already started working with SQL Server 2016 this is definitely the time.  Here are some suggestions:

• Get a copy of SQL Server Developer Edition - Microsoft told us at the end of March that Developer Edition is now free for SQL Server 2014, and that it will be continue to be free when it is released for SQL Server 2016 later this year.  As always Developer Edition is a fully-featured edition of the SQL Server product (with all of the same features as Enterprise Edition) that is intended for use in development and test environments and "and not for production environments or for use with production data" (a curve ball called out in the linked release article above that many people don't consider).  Even though SQL 2016 isn't out yet, prepare yourself by getting a free copy of 2014 Developer Edition now so that you are ready to move to 2016 when it comes out.

• Attend SQL Saturday sessions - I have written before about how amazing SQL Saturdays are and the many reasons for taking part, and now the impending release of the new SQL Server 2016 product makes it even more important than usual!  I don't have any talks in my repertoire about the new version, but both of the SQL Saturdays I am scheduled to speak at in early June have multiple sessions about SQL Server 2016 (as do most other SQL Saturdays - check the full SQL Saturday schedule here):

• SQL Saturday #517 - Philadelphia - June 4th
• Tamera Clark - Microsoft Business Intelligence 2016 – More Love for Your Data
• Kerry Tyler - New Engine Features in SQL Server 2016
• Adam Machanic - SQL Server 2016 "Hidden Gems"
• Sharon Dooley - The New SQL Server 2016 Query Store
• Justin Dearing - An Introduction to Always Encrypted
• Kevin Goff - In-Memory Technology in SQL 2016 (Columnstore Indexes and In-Memory Tables)

• SQL Saturday #523 - Iowa City - June 11th
• Jared Zagelbaum - SQL Server 2016 - New Security Features
• John Pertell - "R" You Ready For SQL 2016?
• Ameena Lalani - SQL Server 2016: What's new?
• Ed Leighton-Dick - Understanding SQL Server 2016 Always Encrypted
• George Bryant - SQL Server 2016 for BI

• Read Blogs and Whitepapers online

• Microsoft has an array of whitepapers and demo videos for SQL Server 2016 available on their official 2016 site.  
• Several major tools vendors have plenty of blogs about SQL Server 2016, especially SQL Sentry and Solarwinds.
• The community has a wide array of blogs related to SQL Server 2016 - a great place to start is on SQLServerCentral

--

Get in front of this now - we can't all be like this:

http://cdn1-www.dogtime.com/assets/uploads/gallery/funny-dog-memes-part-4/funny-dog-meme-learning-tricks-doesnt-matter-when-youre-really-really-ridiculously-good-looking.jpg

--

Hope this helps!