SQL Server 2017 will bring with it support for the Linux OS and containers running on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Our goal is to enable SQL Server to run in modern IT infrastructure in any public or private cloud.
With support for containers, SQL Server can now be used in many popular DevOps scenarios. Developers working with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines can now include SQL Server 2017 containers as a component of their applications for an integrated build, test, and deploy experience.
CI/CD automation with containers – Using containers greatly simplifies the development, testing, and deployment of applications. This is achieved by the packaging of all dependencies, including SQL Server, into a portable, executable environment that reduces variability and increases the speed of every iteration in the CI/CD pipeline. This also enforces a consistent experience for all participants since they can share the same state of an application in their containers. Developers can improve applications in their local environments during the first part of the Continuous Integration process.
The development process starts by taking a container that represents the current state of a production application, including a subset of the sanitized data. Developers can then add their features and fixes to it, while having the ability to verify the functionality of the application at any moment. Then, the container can be sent to a testing/quality assurance environment where it can be tested with a larger, more representative dataset.
Read more about it here.
