SqlServer.Rules 5.0.0 is out 🎉

SqlServer.Rules v5.0.0 is now available

SqlServer.Rules is an open-source static code analysis library and toolset for SQL Server database projects, command line, and Visual Studio, that helps teams catch design flaws, naming inconsistencies, performance anti-patterns, and risky T-SQL constructs early — during development and build time instead of in production.

The value is straightforward: it shifts SQL quality checks left, gives fast and repeatable feedback in CI/CD and local workflows, and helps improve reliability, maintainability, and performance of database code with clear, actionable rule-based guidance.

This major release expands rule coverage significantly and continues consolidation around the SqlServer.Rules codebase and tooling.

Highlights

• Large set of new and migrated design and performance rules
• New SQL project/database option checks
• Completed migration from legacy TSQLSmells packaging
• Tooling and repository improvements

New and Ported Rules (with docs links)

Design rules

• SRD0078 Single-character aliases are poor practice
• SRD0079 Single-character variables are poor practice
• SRD0080 TOP expression should use parentheses
• SRD0081 TOP(100) PERCENT is ignored by optimizer
• SRD0082 Avoid changing DATEFORMAT
• SRD0083 Avoid changing DATEFIRST
• SRD0084 CONCAT_NULL_YIELDS_NULL must be ON
• SRD0085 ANSI_NULLS should be ON
• SRD0086 ANSI_PADDING should be ON
• SRD0087 ANSI_WARNINGS should be ON
• SRD0088 NUMERIC_ROUNDABORT should be OFF
• SRD0089 QUOTED_IDENTIFIER should be ON
• SRD0090 SET FORCEPLAN should be OFF
• SRD0091 Avoid ORDER BY in derived tables for final ordering
• SRD0092 Avoid named primary key constraints on temp tables
• SRD0093 Do not name default constraints on temporary tables
• SRD0094 Avoid named foreign keys on temporary tables
• SRD0095 Named check constraints on temp tables
• SRD0096 Potential SQL injection issue

Performance rules

• SRP0026 Avoid cross-server joins
• SRP0027 Avoid explicit conversion of columnar data
• SRP0028 Explicit RANGE window frame
• SRP0029 Implicit RANGE window frame
• SRP0030 Specify FAST_FORWARD for cursors

SQL project/database option rules

• SRD0700 Database PAGE_VERIFY option is not CHECKSUM
• SRD0701 Database QUERY_STORE option is not READ_WRITE
• SRD0703 Database QUERY_STORE_CAPTURE_MODE option is not AUTO
• SRD0704 Database TARGET_RECOVERY_TIME option is not set
• SRD0705 Database AUTO_CLOSE option is not OFF
• SRD0706 Database AUTO_SHRINK option is ON

Tooling and cleanup

• Documentation generation moved to a separate tool
• Solution updates (including .slnx)
• Legacy TSQLSmells package/sign/test removal

Upgrade

<PackageReference Include="ErikEJ.DacFX.SqlServer.Rules" Version="5.0.0">
  <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
</PackageReference>

Full changelog

• Release notes

Thanks to all contributors and everyone using and testing SqlServer.Rules.