SAS Analytics Pro: Choose Your Interface

With the SAS Viya 2025.08 release, SAS Analytics Pro now gives you flexibility to connect and code using SAS Enterprise Guide or Visual Studio Code with the SAS extension. Work the way you want, in the environment that fits you – without compromising performance or control.

In this article I will summarize the different interfaces available with SAS Analytics Pro and share resources and tutorials to help you quickly get started.

Connecting to SAS Analytics Pro

SAS Analytics Pro is evolving to deliver a more modern, flexible, and high-performance development experience. With support for Visual Studio Code (VS Code)- a globally recognized, open-source IDE used by millions- we are aligning with industry standards and empowering users with a future ready environment, multi- language support (SAS, Python and -coming soon- R), and an enhanced development experience.

For users who prefer a graphical interface or have minimal coding experience, SAS Enterprise Guide is also supported when using SAS Analytics Pro. This desktop client offers a familiar, process flow-based environment, making it easy to work with SAS Analytics Pro without writing extensive code and still benefiting from the platform’s performance and capabilities.

Opening the SAS Analytics Pro on SAS Viya container to support VS Code (with the SAS extension) on Microsoft Windows and SAS Enterprise Guide is an important first step. The ultimate goal is to deliver browser-based VS Code, fully integrated in the container, creating an all-in-one environment that replaces SAS Studio and delivers a complete development experience. This integration is planned for early next year, with the final stable release of SAS Analytics Pro including SAS Studio expected in 2026.02 and the last LTS release in 2025.09 (standard support available until October 2027, conditions apply). SAS Studio will remain available on the SAS Viya platform. VS Code for the web will be introduced in 2025.12 as an experimental feature within SAS Analytics Pro on SAS Viya, with full production planned for 2026.03. At which point it will replace SAS Studio as the default development environment. These dates are subject to change.

Users can interact with SAS Analytics Pro in several ways:

SAS Enterprise Guide: Desktop client for programmers and non-programmers with point-and-click tasks, visual flows and automatic code generation. Requires installation and IOM connection setup. Supported from the 2025.08 SAS Viya stable release.
Visual Studio code (with SAS extension): Desktop VS Code environment with the SAS extension, connecting via SAS IOM. Great for developers who prefer a modern editor. Supported from the 2025.08 SAS Viya stable release.
Visual Studio code (Web): Web-based VS Code environment, eliminating the need for local installation. Planned availability as an experimental feature for SAS Viya 2025.12 stable release.
SAS Studio: Browser based interface for SAS programming with built-in tasks that generate SAS code, reusable code snippets and full SAS programming environment. Planned to be shipped with SAS Analytics pro until SAS Viya stable 2026.02 and LTS 2025.09 releases.

Step-By-Step Guidance

Choose your interface, set up your environment if needed, explore the available starter tutorials, and once comfortable, expand your skills through additional courses.

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1. Choose an Interface

Start by choosing the interface that suits your needs and skill level.

Interface	Audience	Key Features	Installation
SAS Enterprise Guide	Non-programmers and Programmers	Desktop-client Point-and-click tasks generate SAS code Visual flows using tasks Learn SAS programming	Install SAS Enterprise Guide (if SAS Enterprise Guide 8.x for SAS 9 already installed, use “Check for Updates” to upgrade to latest version rather than reinstalling) Install SAS Integration Technologies Client and SAS Providers for OLE DB Configure IOM connection
Visual Studio Code with SAS Extension on Windows Desktop	Programmers	Coding environment Multi-language support Version control integration Note: 2025.12 will introduce a web-based version of VS Code inside the container	Install VS Code Install SAS extension Install SAS Integration Technologies Client and SAS Providers for OLE DB Configure IOM
SAS Studio	Programmers	Browser-Based Point-and-click tasks generate SAS code Snippets included Learn SAS programming PROC Python can be used	None required Planned to be shipped until 2026.02

2. Set-up Environment

Once you’ve chosen your interface, the next step is to set up your environment.

SAS Enterprise Guide:
- Existing SAS Enterprise Guide 8.x from SAS 9 install
  - Use “Check for Updates” to upgrade for connectivity to SAS 9, Viya 3.5, or Viya 4
- New Install
  - Install SAS Enterprise Guide for SAS Viya
  - Install SAS Integration Technologies Client and SAS Providers for OLE DB
  - Configure the IOM connection
- VS Code (with SAS extension):
- SAS Studio: Shipped with SAS Analytics Pro, no installation necessary

3. Explore Tutorials

Next, explore tutorials to learn how to use your chosen interface effectively.

SAS Enterprise Guide: SAS Enterprise Guide Videos
VS Code (with SAS extension): Visual Studio Code Tutorials
SAS Studio: Navigating SAS Studio

4. Learn More

Expand your skills by exploring additional courses and resources.

SAS Enterprise Guide: SAS Enterprise Guide and SAS Office Analytics Learning Subscription
VS Code (with SAS extension): SAS Programming Learning Subscription
SAS Studio: Exploring SAS® Studio for SAS® Analytics Pro and SAS Programming Learning Subscription

Summary

With SAS Analytics Pro on SAS Viya 2025.08, you have multiple options for connecting and coding without compromising performance, functionality, or control. Choose the interface that suits you, explore the available tutorials and expand your SAS skills at your own pace.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the SAS Analytics Pro Product Manager, Wilbram-SAS,  for editing, contributions, and valuable suggestions for improving this article.

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