Embarcadero has introduced DB PowerStudio for DB2 to provide DB2 developers and DBAs with a toolset that brings greater functionality and efficiency to their development, database administration and performance tuning tasks. According to Embarcadero, the new DB PowerStudio for DB2 combines several essential database tools into an aggressively priced suite that extends beyond the capabilities of IBM's database utilities.
Following recent introductions of similar toolsets aimed at Oracle, SQL Server and Sybase ASE users, DB PowerStudio for DB2 meets the needs of both DB2 database developers and administrators, helping both improve the performance and availability of their databases.
Designed for DB2 database professionals, DB PowerStudio complements IBM Data Studio with critical capabilities such as database change management and performance optimization. A graphical Visual SQL Tuning feature allows developers to quickly understand the components of a SQL query, including potential schema flaws and best execution paths, and enables DBAs to make faster at-a-glance decisions.
The DB PowerStudio for DB2 suite is available in a Developer Edition and a DBA Edition. The Developer Edition includes Rapid SQL, DB Optimizer and DB Change Manager. The DBA Edition also includes DB Optimizer and DB Change Manager, as well as DBArtisan for advanced database administration. All of the tools within the toolset support multiple versions of DB2 from a single interface. The overlapping DBA and developer editions reflect the converged roles of DBAs and developers in the database space, Scott Walz, senior director of product management for Embarcadero, tells 5 Minute Briefing.
"Database development and administration have never been more intertwined, so tools that open up communication between the two groups can be a catalyst for massive productivity gains," notes Walz. "If DB2 professionals are going to be tasked to do more, then they need a toolset like DB PowerStudio for DB2 that goes beyond baseline functionality so they can perform their jobs with the greatest efficiency."
The DB PowerStudio for DB2 suite includes Rapid SQL - an integrated development environment (IDE) that simplifies SQL scripting, query building, object management and version control in live databases or offline source code repositories; DB Optimizer - a graphical SQL performance optimization tool that allows users to discover, diagnose and optimize poor-performing SQL with an interactive Visual SQL Tuner; DB Change Manager - a tool that simplifies tasks such as tracking and reporting on database changes, rolling out new releases and pinpointing the cause of performance problems stemming from changes in data, schema and database configuration; and DBArtisan - a database administration tool that enables DBAs to work with multiple DB2 databases, including various versions, from a single interface, providing graphical editors and wizards to streamline routine tasks and reduce errors so users can manage large, complex databases more efficiently. It also helps identify performance, capacity and storage management issues.
In addition, DB PowerStudio comes with Embarcadero's unique ToolCloud technology, which enables users to access the latest version of DB PowerStudio from any Windows desktop instantly, without requiring a conventional install. It also allows larger organizations to track and manage license usage to minimize licensing costs and maximize team productivity.
For more information and pricing, go here.