Glenn Block

Another ALT.NET guy at Microsoft

Dispelling some urban legends about LINQ to SQL

Scott has a great post where he dispels the following two myths about using LINQ to SQL.

LINQ to SQL requires you to start with a database schema.
LINQ to SQL requires your classes to implement INotifyPropertyChanged and use EntitySet<T> for any associated collections.

Looking at the post I think he also added in dispelling a third legend, though he didn't explicitly call it out.

LINQ to SQL requires you to use custom attributes in your code and cannot work with a simple poco. (In other words, LINQ to SQL supports persistance ignorance!)

Personally I have not used LINQ to SQL yet, though I do intend to play with it at some point. I know I have talked to many folks (including friends at Thoughtworks) and I have heard it far easier to grok and use than some other Entity frameworks :)

On the intuitiveness said, I am sold. It took me about five minutes of looking at sample code to understand how to use it.

Thanks for this post Scott!

Published May 18 2008, 11:26 AM by Glenn Block

Filed under: LINQ

Comments

Arjan`s World » Blog Archive » LINKBLOG for May 18, 2008 said:

Pingback from Arjan`s World » Blog Archive » LINKBLOG for May 18, 2008

# May 18, 2008 4:59 PM

Jimmy Bogard said:

Just write real big:

LINQ to SQL supports Persistence Ignorance!

36pt font, bold, Comic Sans (for effect)

# May 18, 2008 7:44 PM

Justice~! said:

Yeah, LINQ to SQL is okay if your domain is *VERY* basic. According to the post you linked, if you're not using IPropertyChanged and EntitySet you're writing your own lazy loading scheme! Um...=)

# May 19, 2008 1:02 AM

Jon Limjap said:

Glenn,

Do you have a link somewhere illustrating how LINQ to SQL can be used with POCOs?

# May 19, 2008 2:26 AM

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About Glenn Block

Glenn is a PM for the new Managed Extensibility Framework in .NET 4.0. Prior to Microsoft, he worked for 10 years in various startups and ISVs wearing many different hats all related to developing software. Glenn has been writing code practically since the time he learned how to ride a bicycle. When he's not writing code, he's continuously improving on ways to build better software. Glenn is a geek at heart and spends a good portion of the rest of this time spreading that geekdom through conferences, and the community through groups such as ALT.NET. When he's not working and playing with technology, he spends his time with his wife and four year old daughter either at their Seattle apartment or at one of the local coffee shops.