How to install SQL Server on macOS

macOS is one of the most popular operating systems in the world, with a loyal following, second only to Microsoft Windows — in terms of numbers, that is. And if we talk about user-friendliness, performance, reliability, and the sheer breadth of capabilities, it might as well be second to none. So, it is no wonder that macOS is quite widely used for database development — and, taken together with Microsoft SQL Server, which is the world’s biggest proprietary relational DBMS, they make a powerful combo.

This article explores how to get this combo to work — how to install SQL Server on macOS via Docker, how to establish a connection, and how to proceed to actual database development and management most quickly and easily using a comprehensive SQL Server IDE — dbForge Studio.