The document discusses the architecture and benefits of n-tier applications using the Entity Framework, emphasizing the importance of a well-defined data model and the advantages of object-relational mapping (ORM) techniques. It introduces the Microsoft Entity Data Model and how it integrates with ADO.NET Data Services for CRUD operations over RESTful web services, detailing improvements and capabilities in .NET 4. The presentation covers various features, patterns, and resources for developers to effectively utilize these technologies in modern web applications.

1. Building nTier Applications with Entity Framework Services

3. Agenda

4. Overview

5. nTier Architecture OverviewModel to create flexible reusable applicationsOnly need to modify or add layers instead of rewriting entire applications over

6. Where’s Your Data Model?Applications Today…Implicitly Contain the Data ModelLogic and Model IntertwinedConceptual MismatchOften encapsulate in a "Data Access Layer"

7. Where’s Your Data Model?What Is Really Needed

8. Applications work with a well Defined Model

9. Storage Schema Abstraction

10. Declarative mapping between application and storage models

11. No brittle, hard-coded mappingEntity Framework

12. Object Relational MappingWhat is ORM?Technique for working with relational tables as if they were objects in memoryIntention is to hide away the complexity of the underlying tables and give a uniform way of working with dataWhy use ORM?ProductivityRetain database independenceObjectsClassesEntities

13. Object Relational MappingThere are many ORMs for .NET developers already in existence. E.g.LLBLGen Pro http://www.llblgen.com/Nhibernate http://www.hibernate.org/343.htmlEntitySpaces http://www.entityspaces.net/Portal/Default.aspx

14. The Microsoft Entity Data ModelAn extended relational model with Entity-Relationship Model conceptsEntity TypesStrong type with IdentityInheritanceScalar/Complex propertiesEntitySetsHold instances of Entity TypesSimilar to relational tablesCan have multiple Entitysets of the same EntityTypesRelationships ("Associations")Named relationships between Entities0..1:*, 0..1:0..1, 1:1, 1:M, M:NNavigation may be exposed as NavigationProperties on EntityTypesAssociationSetsContains instances of associationsMay be queried directlyEntityContainersContains EntitySets, AssociationSetsSalesPersonEmployeeID = 294272LoginID = adamTitle = "Dev Lead"VacationHours = 0…Manager11NReportsSalesPersonSalesPersonEmployeeID = 729742LoginID = peteTitle = "Developer"VacationHours = 0…ExpenseAccount = …CarLicenseNum = ……SalesPersonEmployeeID = 729742LoginID = peteTitle = "Developer"VacationHours = 0…ExpenseAccount = …CarLicenseNum = ……EmployeeID = 729742LoginID = peteTitle = "Developer"VacationHours = 0…ExpenseAccount = true…

15. EDM & Entity Framework?The Entity Framework (EF) is an Object Relational Modeling tool leveraging the EDMFocus on your domain, not how to persist!EDM is used to describe your model.Allows different rate of change between database and code!EF uses a storage model and mapping to enable this.

16. ADO.NET Entity Framework

17. EF Providers in Progress

18. LINQ to Entities – Lots of Topics

20. Using Entity Framework with ASP.NET

21. Pain Points in v3.5 SP1Pluralization/ SingularizationForeign KeysModel FirstLazy LoadingAdditional LINQ OperatorsL2S Features & PatternsSQL Gen Improvements

22. Entity Framework in .NET 4Improvements:Model FirstT4 Templates to control code generationSupporting DDD approach with POCO Persistence IgnoranceRepository patternQuery ImprovementsLazy LoadingDisconnected API’s to enable N-tier

23. Easily Expose Your EntitiesWCF Data Services

24. Data Services OverviewExtends Windows Communication FoundationFunctionalityCRUD access to data over RESTful web servicesBuilt-in URI-based query syntaxClient-side libraries for .NET and AJAX clients

25. Data ServicesHTTPOpen Data ProtocolHosting/HTTP ListenerData Services RuntimeIQueryable/IEnumerable[+ IUpdatable]Data Access LayerEntity FrameworkCustom LINQ ProviderRelational databaseOther sources

26. Data Services - A REST InterfaceThe underlying model

27. Entities and associations  resources and linksWCF 4Programming ModelCore ServicesWeb HTTP ServicesData ServicesRIA ServicesWorkflow ServicesService ModelData ContractService ContractService BehaviorChannel ModelFormats(Atom, JSON, XML,…)Transports(HTTP, TCP, …)Protocols(SOAP, HTTP, Open Data Protocol,…)

28. URL ConventionsAddressing entities and setsPresentation optionsModern Data-Driven Web AppsAJAX integrationAJAX-friendly JSON format in servicesJavascript library that integrates with the ASP.NET AJAX toolkitSilverlight support.NET programming model for data servicesObject based, LINQ enabled APICode-gen entity types from metadata

29. "Traditional" ApplicationsWeb applicationsData services client can be used in ASP.NETASP.NET data source control for accessing remote servicesDesktop applicationsFully-featured .NET client librarySame API in desktop and Silverlight environments

30. What’s New in .NET 4Data BindingNew DataServiceCollection class provides simplified binding of data service data to (WPF) controls. Includes auto updating.Counting Entities in an Set $count - total number of resources returned by a URI$inlinecount - total resource count together with the resource dataServer-driven Paging Service can be configured to return requested resources as a set of paged responses

31. What’s New in .NET 4Query ProjectionsQuery results can be modified to include only a subset of properties by using the new $select query option.Custom Data Service ProvidersCan implement a set of new data service provider interfaces, you can use various types of data with a data service, even when the data model changes during execution.Streaming of Binary ResourcesThis enables you to retrieve and save binary large object data independent of the entity to which it belongs.

33. Summary

34. Conclusion

35. Before You Begin…What I Have Learned So Far About The Entity Framework and ADO.NET Data Serviceshttp://dotnettips.com/2008/09/30/WhatIHaveLearnedSoFarAboutTheEntityFrameworkAndADONETDataServices.aspx*Part 2 coming out soon!Using Microsoft ADO.NET Data Serviceshttp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc907912.aspx

36. ResourcesADO.NET Team Bloghttp://blogs.msdn.com/adonet/default.aspxEF Design Blogblogs.msdn.com/efdesignVisual Studio Data Bloghttp://blogs.msdn.com/vsdata/dnrTV!http://shrinkster.com/1734http://shrinkster.com/1735

37. ResourcesDan Simmons Bloghttp://blogs.msdn.com/dsimmons/MSDN Code Galleryhttp://shrinkster.com/1733WCF Data Services Learning Guide:http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/bb931106.aspxWCF Data Services Team Bloghttp://blogs.msdn.com/astoriateam/default.aspx