Btukfyl

I have been working with SQL Server for a couple of years. I have heard about SMO but I don't know anything about it. What are the benefits of using it? Should I learn and start using SMO in my SQL Server projects (mainly data warehouse development)? Why?

It depends on what you're trying to do. SMO is SQL Server Management Objects. It is a set of libraries for managing SQL Server programmatically. For example if you're trying to build a clone of SQL Maangement Studio then SMO is something you probably want to look into. OR if you're trying to manpulate the structure of your database programmatically then that's the place to look.

Otherwise, I wouldn't bother.

From Microsoft:

Overview (SMO)

SQL Server Management Objects (SMO)
are objects designed for programmatic
management of Microsoft SQL Server.
You can use SMO to build customized
SQL Server management applications.
Although SQL Server Management Studio
is a powerful and extensive
application for managing SQL Server,
there might be times when you would be
better served by an SMO application.

For example, the user applications
that control the SQL Server management
tasks might have to be simplified to
meet the needs of new users and to
reduce training costs. You might have
to create customized SQL Server
databases, or create an application
for creating and monitoring the
efficiency of indexes. An SMO
application might also be used to
include third-party hardware or
software seamlessly into the database
management application.

The SMO object model extends and
supersedes the Distributed Management
Objects (SQL-DMO) object model.
Compared to SQL-DMO, SMO increases
performance, control, and ease of use.
Most SQL-DMO functionality is included
in SMO, and there are various new
classes that support new features in
SQL Server. The object model is
intuitive and uses SQL-DMO
terminology, where it is possible, to
help transfer your skills.

You can download SMO here:

Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 Feature Pack

And for getting started programming:

Creating SMO Programs

I have used SMO to automatically script out object code and user permissions and add to version control.

By doing this I can save privileges or object DDL as of a point in time for my auditing team or my own research or for cloning a server.

I also use it so I can quickly compare object code from specific dates without needing a snapshot / backup.

Recently I used SMO in a Disaster Recovery Project to script out all Server Permissions and System Database Object Permissions and run the script on the replacement server.

I've recently created an POS/Work Order Management application with a SQL database backend and the SMO library. The SMO gave my a application a lot of flexibility to control the database in terms of work order records, user's records an even my own set of user roles. Helping me to differentiate SQL users when managing a specific database. So, my take is that it all depends on the extend of your use of SQL and how much you may need to automate and control certain aspects of your SQL database.