Introducing Integrated Workspace Mode for SQL Server Data Tools for Analysis Services Tabular Projects (SSDT Tabular)
When you work with the model designer in SSDT Tabular, you are working with a temporary Analysis Services database that SSDT Tabular automatically loads on a workspace server. During the initial project creation, you must point SSDT Tabular to the desired workspace server, which must be a tabular Analysis Services instance that you can control with full permissions of a SSAS Administrator. In a typical configuration, you would deploy a workspace server on the local computer running SSDT Tabular. Yet, having to run SQL Server Setup in order to deploy a full SSAS instance in Tabular mode just for development purposes is burdensome. Now there is a better way—Integrated workspace mode!
The following screenshot shows the Tabular Model Designer dialog box displayed when creating a new tabular project by using the SSDT September release. Note the Integrated Workspace option. If you select it, SSDT Tabular no longer requires an explicit workspace server. Instead, it relies on its own internal Analysis Services instance.