There are two different environments that allow for the creation of SSRS reports: Report Builder and Microsoft Visual Studio. This article analyzes the differences in their user interfaces.
A noticeable difference between Report Builder and Microsoft Visual Studio is the complexity of their designs. Report Builder is a much simpler environment, containing fewer windows and options.
Report Builder is essentially a slimmed down version of Visual Studio. In Report Builder, there is no solution to load; thus, you do not connect to a Source Control like TFS as you would in Visual Studio. Also, you do not need to get the latest version or check in to save any changes in Report Builder, you simply save the report as you would saving any regular file.
Report Builder opens reports directly from the Report Server and saves the reports there; thus, no local files are managed.
In Visual Studio, a Report Solution is created to house all of the reports, then the solution is deployed to the Report Server.
Report Builder is a much quicker method for building and deploying reports as they are easily saved, and access can be distributed without having to install Visual Studio on every machine. The access is simply based on getting to the Report directory.
Performance wise, both Report Builder and Visual Studio run very similarly, processing the logic behind datasets and report objects, and producing error messages as they are encountered.
Note. The Visual Studio Solution contains the reports.
This article has outlined the key similarities and differences between Report Builder and Visual Studio when working with SSRS reports and projects.
