I finally built the SQL Server Feature Matrix I've wanted for years -- SQL.FM

[u/MikeScalise]

About six years ago, Brent Ozar linked to the PostgreSQL Feature Matrix in his newsletter and wrote, "I wish we had this for SQL Server."

I remember seeing that and thinking the same thing. I'd wanted an easier way to answer questions like: When did SQL Server get this feature? Which versions and editions support it? What about Azure?

I never really had the time to build a comprehensive feature matrix until this year, when I had some free nights and weekends to devote to the project.

So, I finally built one for SQL Server -- and it's completely free to use:

SQL Server Feature Matrix (SQL.FM)
https://sql.fm

The Feature Matrix currently tracks 300+ SQL Server features across versions going all the way back to SQL Server 1.0, including edition differences, Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Managed Instance.

You can choose exactly which versions/environments you want to compare, search for individual features, and use a “Hide unchanged features” checkbox to quickly narrow the matrix down to the differences.

While building it, I ended up adding three other quick references I often find myself looking for:

• SQL Server Version Reference
• SQL Server & OS Compatibility Matrix
• Date & Time Reference

A significant part of the project was researching and verifying the feature data, especially for the older SQL Server releases. I spent a lot of time digging through Microsoft documentation, archived material, and other historical sources, and I've tried to be as accurate as possible.

That said, with hundreds of features spanning decades of SQL Server releases, there's always the possibility that something slipped through. If you find an error, have a better source for something, or notice a feature that's missing, I'd really appreciate the feedback.

I built this because it's the kind of reference I've wanted to have myself, so hopefully some of you find it useful too.

[u/jshine13371]

Maybe I missed it because I'm on mobile, but does it provide which Editions of those Versions of SQL Server that feature is available for? I find that's the bigger question I'm trying to answer most times.

[u/alinroc → u/jshine13371]

I'm not /u/MikeScalise (aside: hi Mike!) but - yes. Each feature/version intersection shows three boxes, X, S, and E, with either a red or green background. X = Express, S = Standard, E = Enterprise and red = No, green = Y, blue = Preview.

When the mouse hovers over each one, it'll pop up a tooltip reading Standard: Unavailable or Express: Available

And I really like this "Hide unchanged features" checkbox that hides anything that's universally available across the versions you're looking at.

[u/kassett43 → u/alinroc]

You might want to consider another method of marking the features other than color. For example, 1 in 12 men are color blind.

[u/MikeScalise → u/kassett43]

Thank you for that suggestion!

[u/jshine13371 → u/alinroc]

Cool, thanks!

Of course Microsoft always publishes this information as documentation but this helps unfiy it across Versions now, so that's cool.

[u/MikeScalise → u/jshine13371]

That was my thought too. I wanted it all in one easy-to-read place!

[u/MikeScalise → u/alinroc]

Andy! It’s been a while… How’s it going? Planning on attending any upcoming SQL Server events?

[u/chicaneuk]

Brilliant idea .. thanks so much for taking the time! Really handy to have this at a filterable glance. I just love when people take their own time to make stuff like this, so thank-you.

[u/MikeScalise → u/chicaneuk]

Thank you for the comment! I appreciate it.

[u/BrentOzar]

Woohoo! Nice work, sir!

[u/MikeScalise → u/BrentOzar]

Thank you for the inspiration!

[u/wiseDATAman]

This is really cool. Nice work! 👏

[u/MikeScalise → u/wiseDATAman]

Thank you!

[u/poopnormal]

This really useful! Thanks

[u/MikeScalise → u/poopnormal]

Glad you like it!

[u/k-semenenkov]

Looks good, but seems data types are missing (in PG FM has data types)

[u/MikeScalise → u/k-semenenkov]

Good call! I’ll add data types to the next iteration. Thanks!