What are the reasons to use SQL Server instead of MySQL with a complex .Net project?
My pro/con list for MySQL vs. SQL Server for .NET projects would be:
Pros to MySQL:
- Cost
Pros to SQL Server:
- Better tooling support, especially for .NET (Entity Framework + other ORM support is MUCH better)
- Better Visual Studio support
- Better integration support, especially if you want to do things like Silverlight + RIA, etc.
Have a look at
- DBMS Comparisons: MySQL 5.0 vs. Microsoft SQL Server 2005
- Comparison of Microsoft SQL Server 2005, MySQL 5, and PostgreSQL 8.3
- Microsoft SQL Server vs. MySQL
- MySQL or SQL Server: Look beyond politics and hype when deciding which to use
With SQL Server, you can have better tooling integration ( such as designers) between your entity class and your database schema.
You can just drag a database and drop it in the designer, and viola! All the entities mapping to the tables and their relationships are generated.
(source: scottgu.com)
As for MySQL, obviously licensing cost is an advantage