There are quite a few choices when it comes to how to do data access for your .NET application. With .NET 3.5, Microsoft introduced LINQ to SQL which is a powerful ORM solution leveraging LINQ technology. The Entity Framework was released with .NET 3.5 SP1 and took the concepts of LINQ to SQL to a new level. The Entity Framework brought additional features over LINQ to SQL as well as laying a new foundation for the future of data access in .NET. In this session we will look at a brief history of ORM and then go through a walkthrough of the Entity Framework and flesh out the data access layer of a simple application. We will look at similarities of LINQ to SQL and the Entity Framework as well as some common “gotchas” associated with EF. We will also take a lap through the new exciting features coming in Entity Framework 4.

Dane Morgridge has been a developer for 9+ years and has worked with .NET & C# since the first public beta. His current passions are Entity Framework, WPF, WCF, Silverlight and LINQ. He works mostly with C#, but is also a big fan of whatever new technology he happens to come across. In addition to software development also enjoys dabbling in graphic design, video special effects and hockey. When not with his family he is usually learning some new technology or working on some side projects. He is currently working as the Senior Interactive Developer at Roska Direct in Montgomeryville, PA. He can be reached through is blog http://geekswithblogs.net/danemorgridge or on Twitter @danemorgridge.