In your development environment, do you install a local SQL express or a dedicated SQL server? What are the pro/con's of these two options?
From my own experience so far:
What are your personal experiences and suggestions?
I think it really depends on how busy you expect the app to be & any cost restrictions (number of boxes, rack space etc.). If it's a low traffic inter / intranet server I'd be inclined put them on the same box. If the SQL was a small part of a busy web server, separate them. If you encapsualte them well enough then the deployment differences are a matter of configuration, rather than re-coding. ie. Code for both eventualities.
SQL Express can only use 1GB of RAM & a 4GB database - it will get only-so busy.
Local is useful when working on a laptop/from home where don't have access to a network.
Also useful when want to work on isolation from other developers and not worry about someone elses work on the same database / other activities on the server slowing you down.
I work on the server but use a local instance for the above cases