Entity Framework 4 / POCO - Where to start? [closed]

Answer 1

Wow, lots of answers. How about an example which contains a tweaked version of T4 templates that generate POCO + interfaces + repositories altogether?

https://entityinterfacegenerator.codeplex.com

Answer 2

Julia Lerman has a nice series of introductory videos, about 10 minutes each. They're introductory, but there are plenty of practical tips that get some potential learning roadblocks out of the way. I especially liked her demonstration of watching the actual SQL go by using SQL Server Profiler.

Answer 3

I do recommend that you take a half hour or so and generate a stable EF1.0 model in your current VS. That will get you a long way towards understanding the metaphors and concepts of EF 4.0. Just whip up a simple Customer, Products and Orders db...I recommend doing your own and not using Northwind.

Answer 4

These articles might be of interest...the series really gets into the advantages and disadvantages of a POCO approach.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/adonet/archive/2009/05/21/poco-in-the-entity-framework-part-1-the-experience.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/adonet/archive/2009/05/28/poco-in-the-entity-framework-part-2-complex-types-deferred-loading-and-explicit-loading.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/adonet/archive/2009/06/10/poco-in-the-entity-framework-part-3-change-tracking-with-poco.aspx

In these articles the author mentions future articles that describe best practices in implementing Repository and Unit of Work patterns, but I can't find them. These articles are well written and I'd like to read more from this author.

Answer 5

I was looking for the same answers and came across http://www.dotnetcurry.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=599

At the end of the link, there are few links which will get you rolling with Entity Framework 4.

Hope this helps

Answer 6

There are also these tutorials:

• https://danielwertheim.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/entity-framework-4-ctp3-code-first-vs-linq-to-sql/
• https://danielwertheim.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/updates-to-putting-entity-framework-4-to-use-in-a-business-architecture/