The T-SQL Analyzer extensions for Visual Studio and SQL Server Management Studio have been significantly updated. Here's what's new.

Background

I maintain a collection of over 140 open source static code analysis rules based on the DacFX API, covering T-SQL best practices for design, naming, and performance.

I previously blogged about the launch of the T-SQL Analyzer extension for Visual Studio, which provided live analysis of SQL scripts as you author them.

This post covers a significant update to both the Visual Studio and the new SQL Server Management Studio extension.

What's new

Now available in SQL Server Management Studio 22

The live analysis experience is no longer limited to Visual Studio — it is now also available in SQL Server Management Studio 22 (SSMS). You get the same real-time feedback on your SQL scripts as you type, directly in the SSMS query editor.

The SSMS extension is available in the new SSMS VSIX Gallery.

Analysis of any SQL script — not just CREATE statements

Previously, live analysis only triggered on SQL scripts that contained CREATE statements — the kind typically found inside SQL database projects. The extension has now been revamped to analyze any SQL script you have open in the editor, whether it is a stored procedure, a query, a migration script, a one-off data fix, or anything else. If you're writing SQL, you now get feedback.

If you encounter any issues with this new feature, please create an issue in the GitHub repo

Configure via Tools / Options

Both extensions now expose settings under Tools → Options → *T-SQL Analyzer in Visual Studio and SSMS, so you can customize behavior without editing project files.

Setting Description
Run static T-SQL analysis Enable or disable live analysis entirely
SQL engine version Set the SQL Server dialect used for analysis (SQL Server 2005 through SQL Server 2025, Azure SQL Database, Synapse, Fabric, and more)
Rule exceptions Set a rules expression to suppress or enforce specific rules when no SQL project configuration is present (e.g. +!SqlServer.Rules.SRD0006;-SqlServer.Rules.SRN*)

These options apply globally when a script is not part of a SQL database project. When a project is involved, the extension defers to the project configuration (see below).

Project settings are still respected

If your SQL script is part of a SQL database project (based on MSBuild.Sdk.SqlProj, Microsoft.Build.Sql, or a classic .sqlproj), the extension continues to respect the project's own configuration:

<Project Sdk="MSBuild.Sdk.SqlProj/3.2.0">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
    <SqlServerVersion>Sql170</SqlServerVersion>
    <RunSqlCodeAnalysis>True</RunSqlCodeAnalysis>
    <CodeAnalysisRules>-SqlServer.Rules.SRD0006</CodeAnalysisRules>
    <!-- This property supports wildcard rule filters -->
    <!-- and overrides 'CodeAnalysisRules' above if present -->
    <AnalyzerCodeAnalysisRules>-SqlServer.Rules.SRD0006;-Microsoft.*</AnalyzerCodeAnalysisRules>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

This means if analysis is disabled in the project, or if you have suppressed specific rules via CodeAnalysisRules or AnalyzerCodeAnalysisRules, the live extension honours those settings. The global Tools/Options settings only apply when no project configuration is found.

Installation

Visual Studio

Download the extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace.

  • Visual Studio 2026 and later: No separate installation required — the extension uses the dnx command to run the T-SQL Analyzer CLI as a NuGet package automatically.
  • Visual Studio 2022: Install the latest version of the CLI tool first:
dotnet tool install -g ErikEJ.DacFX.TSQLAnalyzer.CLI

SSMS

Download the extension from the new SSMS VSIX Gallery.

The extension automatically uses the dnx command to run the T-SQL Analyzer CLI tool. No separate installation is needed, but the .NET 10 SDK is required (automatically installed with the Database DevOps workload in SSMS).

Summary

Feature Before Now
Visual Studio support ✓ ✓
SSMS support ✗ ✓
Any SQL script analyzed ✗ (CREATE only) ✓
Tools/Options settings ✗ ✓
Respect SQL project settings ✓ ✓

Feedback and contributions

Should you encounter bugs or have feature requests, head over to the GitHub repo to open an issue if one doesn't already exist.

If you enjoy using the extensions, please give them a ★★★★★ rating on the Visual Studio Marketplace.

Another way to help out is to sponsor me on GitHub.