ApexSQL Complete

Enhance Your SQL Coding Productivity with ApexSQL Complete

ApexSQL Complete dramatically accelerates the process of writing T-SQL code within SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Visual Studio environments. This powerful, free add-in provides a comprehensive suite of features aimed at boosting developer productivity and reducing coding errors.

Key capabilities include:

• Advanced Code Completion: Beyond basic IntelliSense, ApexSQL Complete offers intelligent, context-aware suggestions for keywords, objects, and variables as you type. This includes schema awareness, providing relevant suggestions based on the current database context.
• Smart Autocompletion: Automatically completes statements, object names, and other code elements, minimizing keystrokes and potential typos.
• Insert Code Snippets: Access a library of pre-defined or custom code snippets for common SQL operations, allowing for rapid insertion of boilerplate code and complex constructs.
• SQL Code Formatting: Instantly format your T-SQL code according to predefined or custom styles, ensuring readability and consistency across development teams.
• Powerful Refactoring Capabilities: While primarily focused on completion, the underlying technology enables intelligent understanding of code structure, which can assist in simplifying complex queries and improving maintainability.
• Alias Management: Easily manage and insert aliases for tables and objects, simplifying queries and improving readability.
• Navigation Features: Quickly navigate to object definitions and declarations within your code.
• Object Scripting: Generate scripts for database objects directly from the completion list or hints.

ApexSQL Complete is more than just a simple autocomplete tool; it's a productivity suite that integrates seamlessly into your existing development workflow within SSMS and Visual Studio. By providing intelligent suggestions, automating repetitive tasks, and improving code readability, it allows developers to focus on the logic of their SQL code rather than the syntax and structure. Its free availability makes it an accessible and valuable addition to any SQL developer's toolkit.

Comprehensive Review of ApexSQL Complete

ApexSQL Complete stands out as a valuable, free add-in for developers working with SQL Server in SSMS and Visual Studio. Its primary focus is to enhance the speed and accuracy of writing T-SQL code. The software effectively delivers on this promise through a combination of intelligent features that go beyond the basic IntelliSense provided by Microsoft's tools.

The core strength of ApexSQL Complete lies in its advanced code completion engine. Unlike standard autocomplete, ApexSQL Complete offers context-aware suggestions, presenting relevant keywords, database objects (tables, views, stored procedures, functions), variables, and parameters as the user types. This intelligence significantly reduces the amount of typing required and helps prevent syntax errors by guiding the user towards valid options. The schema awareness is particularly useful, as it filters suggestions based on the database currently being queried, preventing the appearance of irrelevant objects.

The autocompletion feature complements code completion by automatically completing common statements and object names, further accelerating the coding process. This is especially helpful for frequently used keywords and object names that might be lengthy or prone to typographical errors.

One of the most impactful features for productivity is the snippet management system. ApexSQL Complete allows users to define and use custom code snippets for common SQL constructs, such as SELECT templates, INSERT statements, or even more complex stored procedure skeletons. The ability to quickly insert these pre-defined blocks of code saves considerable time and promotes consistency across projects or within a team. The software also comes with a set of predefined snippets that cover many common scenarios.

Code formatting is another essential feature provided by ApexSQL Complete. Maintaining consistent code style is crucial for readability and team collaboration. This add-in allows users to format their T-SQL code instantly according to various customizable styles. This means developers can focus on writing the logic and then easily apply formatting to make the script clean and easy to understand. The formatting options are granular, allowing customization of indentation, casing, spacing, and other visual elements.

While primarily a productivity tool, ApexSQL Complete incorporates elements that touch upon refactoring. The intelligent parsing of code can help in understanding the structure of complex queries, indirectly assisting in simplifying them. Features like alias management further contribute to making code more readable and maintainable, which is a key aspect of refactoring.

The Alias Management feature is a handy addition. It helps in creating and using aliases for tables and other objects within complex queries, significantly improving the readability of JOIN operations and other statements involving multiple objects. The add-in simplifies the process of adding and referencing these aliases.

Navigation features, such as the ability to jump to object definitions, though seemingly minor, contribute to a smoother workflow. When working with complex databases or large scripts, being able to quickly see the definition of a referenced table or stored procedure without manually browsing the Object Explorer is a significant time saver.

Generating scripts for database objects directly from the completion list or other intuitive interfaces is another useful functionality that streamlines the development process, allowing for quick examination or modification of object definitions.

The seamless integration with SSMS and Visual Studio is a major advantage. ApexSQL Complete operates directly within the familiar IDE environment, feeling like a native extension rather than a separate application. This deep integration ensures a fluid workflow and minimizes disruption to the developer's existing habits.

Performance is generally good, with suggestions appearing quickly as you type, even in large databases. While occasional slowdowns might occur in very complex scenarios or with extremely large schemas, the overall responsiveness is commendable.

The fact that ApexSQL Complete is available for free makes it an exceptionally attractive option. It provides a level of functionality that is often found in commercial tools, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for developers looking to improve their SQL coding efficiency.

In conclusion, ApexSQL Complete is a highly effective and valuable tool for anyone writing T-SQL code in SSMS or Visual Studio. Its comprehensive set of features, including advanced completion, snippets, formatting, and seamless integration, delivers tangible improvements in productivity and code quality. The free availability makes it an easy recommendation for individual developers and teams alike.