This document discusses Entity Framework Core, an object-relational mapper that enables .NET developers to work with databases using .NET objects. It offers cross-platform support, is lightweight and composable, supports multiple data stores and providers, and is optimized for simple ORM usage. Key features covered include modeling, change tracking, querying, schema management, and support for .NET Core, ASP.NET Core, and platforms like UWP. Differences from EF 6.x are also outlined, such as additional provider and platform support in Core. The presentation concludes with links for further information and a request for questions.

1. EF For Cross Platform Apps
@svswaminathan
BDotNet UG Meet, Aug 2016

2. Swaminathan Vetri
• Senior Engineer @ Target
• Microsoft MVP - Visual Studio &
Development technologies
• Windows/Web/Cross platform mobile
developer
• Blogger, Speaker, Amateur photographer,
Gadget freak
2

3. Objective
• What is EF Core ?
• Why EF Core ?
• What it offers ?
• EF Core vs EF 6.x
• Demos

4. What is EF Core ?
• Entity Framework (EF) Core is an object-relational mapper (O/RM)
that enables .NET developers to work with a database using .NET
objects.
• EF Core is a lightweight and extensible version of the popular Entity
Framework data access technology.

5. Why EF Core ?
• Cross platform i.e., EF Core works on Windows/Mac/Linux
• Lightweight and Composable
• Supports new data stores (relational & non-relational)
• Multiple Database providers
• Optimized around being a simple intuitive O/RM

6. What it offers?
• Modelling
• Change Tracking
• SaveChanges
• Querying
• Database Schema Management
• Database Providers
• Platforms

7. Modelling
• Basic modelling
• Built in conventions
• Fluent API
• Data Annotations
• Relationships
• Shadow state properties
• Model validation
• Key Value generation
• Relational : Table mapping
• TPH inheritance

8. Change Tracking
• Snapshot change tracking
• Notification change tracking
• Accessing tracked state
• Via DbContext.Entry/DbContext.ChangeTracker
• Attaching detached entities/graphs
• Via DbContext.AttachGraph API

9. Save Changes
• Basic Save
• Optimistic Concurrency
• Async Save changes
• Transactions
• Relational : Batching of statements

10. Querying
• LINQ Support
• Mixed client/server evaluation
• NoTracking
• Eager loading
• Async Query
• Raw SQL Queries
• Via DbSet.FromSql

11. Database Schema Management
• Database Creation/Deletion
• Relational Database migration
• Reverse Engineer from Database

12. Database Providers
• Microsoft SqlServer – connects to SQL server 2008 onwards
• Microsoft SqlServer Compact edition
• IBM data servers
• Sqlite
• InMemory
• Postgres
• MySQL, Oracle (Coming soon)

13. Platforms
• Full .Net
• Console, WPF, WinForms, ASP.NET 4
• .Net Core
• Asp.Net Core on Windows, Linux and OS X
• UWP

14. EF Core vs EF 6.x

15. What’s new in EF Core ?
• Support for UWP, Asp.Net Core, Xamarin (coming soon)
• Database providers like InMemory, Azure Table storage, Redis etc.,
• Reverse engineer model from command line (Scaffold-DbContext)
• Shadow state properties
• Alternate Keys, Key generation at Client
• Mixed client/server evaluation
• Batching of statements (only relational)

16. What’s NOT available in EF Core ?
• Inheritance (Table per type, Table per concrete class)
• Many to many without join entities
• Complex/value types, Spatial data, graphical visualization of model,
Drag and drop editor, EDMX
• Reverse engineer from database (VS Wizard), Incremental model
update from DB
• Lazy loading, explicit loading, Stored Procedure
• Seed data, Connection resiliency, lifecycle hooks (events, command
interception etc.,)

17. Demo

18. Useful links
• https://github.com/aspnet/EntityFramework/wiki/Roadmap
• https://github.com/aspnet/EntityFramework/wiki/Guiding-Principles
• https://docs.efproject.net/en/latest/intro.html
• https://docs.efproject.net/en/latest/efcore-vs-
ef6/features.html#side-by-side-comparison

19. Thank You
Questions/Feedbacks : swami@wannabeegeek.com | @svswaminathan