DbVisualizer vs. Redgate SQL Toolbelt Essentials

Well suited for medium size to large Oracle system that includes a large and complex database schema with many database objects including functions and triggers. Also well suited for a medium size to large Microsoft SQL Server system with many complex database objects. Its SQL editor and query builder are well suited in developing complex SQL queries.

We use SQL Compare to troubleshoot performance problems quite a bit since our data model is more like a template and not everything is 100% in sync and customization occurs between different client databases. We continually get pulled into performance issues and the developers will say Client A is performing different than Client B, why? Using SQL Compare, we usually find that one client was tuned and had indexes altered or added that weren't deployed to all clients or other objects weren't deployed correctly during the release. On the other hand, since our data model practices allow client databases to drift I tried to create a new golden image by trying to compare multiple databases based on the same data model and found it to be a very difficult process to complete using SQL Compare. SQL Compare gave me too much information and doesn't allow enough filtering to eliminate a lot of the noise.

Incentivized

• Provides simple access to all tables, indexes, views, triggers, stored procedures, etc., to just about every database on the market
• Allows me to develop and run queries in a simple, easy to read and understand manner
• Allows me to create entire new schemas as well as alter existing schemas
• Gives me access to databases without the need to install specific drivers for any particular database

Incentivized

• Simple and easy comparison of database schemas and data. Differences can be copied or synced from one database to another with a click of a button.
• You can save "projects" so that you can easily rerun a previous comparison whenever you need to.
• It has a very simple, easy to learn interface. I've never needed to read any documentation or watch any tutorials in order to figure out how to do something.

Incentivized

• does not handle lost connections well (specially after stopping a running query) (mysql). eg. after hitting stop, and then hitting run again, it can sometimes look like its running the query, but it isn't actually!
• filtering on databases window is clunky (why the need for filtering certain object types at a time? just filter everything, google style)
• altering table, adding columns (NOT to the end of the table's columns, but earlier) is not supported (mysql) even though the db supports it (alter table add column BEFORE..)

Incentivized

• Pricing.... I wish there was an inexpensive developer version I could buy for myself.
• Portability.... I would like to use it from a flash drive so I can use it where ever I am asked to work.
• Unbundled.... This may be available already but I dont' recall I can buy it cheaply as a stand-alone product. Its only part of the bundle - cost effectively.

Incentivized

We never had problems with it. It is able to connect to all data sources (Oracle, Informix, DB2, SQL Server) that we currently use.

Incentivized

I use this tool for several hours each day, spanning many years in various projects. It's wide support for various database types while keeping consistency within the UI for each is important when working with various databases day in and day out.

It's a good tool to have, but becomes expensive to buy a user license for each developer.

Incentivized

Never used

Incentivized

They have a great community website where you can search for answers but are also very responsive when it comes to direct support.

Incentivized

[DbVisualizer] is pretty easy to use compared to IntelliJ because of it's simplicity. The performance is very good, it feels as good as a native application compared to the other two softwares I used for the same purpose. It's very cheaper compared to the other two tools and that's a big selling point.

Incentivized

I've used Visual Studio Database Projects for this type of work in the past with some success, but Redgate SQL Compare is faster, more transparent, and simply easier to use. Faster is self explanatory. More transparent, means that it's much easier to set up your desired options for schema change deployment scripts. Easier to use, It's really dead simple. Start a project, connect your source, connect destination, click compare.

Incentivized

• The only point I could potentially give is hours saved by having so many warehouses hooked up in one place vs. having to manage connection string changes/password updates across multiple applications... maybe 10% decrease in time spent managing connections? Mind you, I've had everything hooked up on DbVis for close to 6 years so it's hard to remember the "before times"

• Makes deployment fairly simple. Cutting our deployment time down.
• With the SDK, we can customize our deployment process very quickly and easily.
• History is not great, it does create scripts you can go back and see but it would be nice to have a quicker version view by object to save time.

Incentivized