LINQ to SQL resources

A quick round-up of some useful LINQ to SQL related resources that are available for developers. I’ve not used everything on this list myself so don’t take this as personal endorsement.

Templates

• Entity DeveloperAdd-in for Visual Studio that provides a replacement designer with code templates. Commercial ($99.95)
• LLBLGen ProThis ORM templating and design tool has a set of LINQ to SQL templates available for generating C# code including file per entity that can be used in conjunction with their designer. Templates are free but require LLBLGen Pro license (€179–249).
• L2ST4My templates use Visual Studio’s built in T4 engine and provide a great starting point to customizing the code generation process. Everything that SQL Metal/LINQ to SQL designer can generate is handled including C# and VB.NET generation and are freely licensed under the MS-PL.
• PLINQOThese templates for Eric Smith’s ever-popular CodeSmith templating environment include a whole host of extra functionality beyond the standard generation including entity clone & detach, enum’s from tables, data annotations, batching, auditing and more. Templates are free but require CodeSmith license ($79-$299).
• T4 ToolboxOleg Sych has put together a suite of useful T4 templates including ones for producing LINQ to SQL entities, data contexts as well as SQL scripts for altering the schema to reflect changes. C# only, MS-RL.

Note: While the T4 templating language is built-in to Visual Studio 2008/2010 it does not come with syntax highlighting or IntelliSense. Check out either:

• Clarius Visual T4Basic ‘community’ version available for free, commercial ‘pro’ version with IntelliSense, sub-templates, preview, user preferences etc. is $99.
• Tangible T4Free version available with limited IntelliSense, commercial ‘pro’ version with UML modeling etc. available for $99.

Blogs

• David DeWinterDavid is a dev in test who recently joined our team and hit the ground running with testing, blogging and helping out on the forums.
• Roger JenningsRoger over at OakLeaf Systems publishes regular articles and roundups of some of the best .NET data access content from around the web including LINQ to SQL.
• Scott GuthrieOur Corporate Vice President for the .NET Developer Platform takes a very active role in getting his hands dirty and publishes a series of useful LINQ to SQL articles.
• Sidar OkSidar is a regular forum helper and has written a number of great posts on LINQ to SQL including some good POCO coverage.

Tools

• Devart dotConnectDevart’s dotConnect family are database providers for Oracle, MySQL, Postgres and SQLite that also include LINQ support to enable LINQ to SQL like functionality on other platforms. Some database basic versions are free, professional versions are commercial and vary in price (~$99-$209).
• Hugati DBML/EDMX ToolsAdd-in for Visual Studio that provides comparison/update facilities between the database and the DBML as well as standardizing names and generating interfaces. Commercial ($49-$119, free 30 day trial).
• Hugati LINQ to SQL ProfilerProfiling tool to help optimize your LINQ to SQL based applications. Commercial ($49-$119, free 45 day trial).
• LINQpadThis invaluable tool helps you write and visualize your LINQ queries in a test-bench without compilation and includes a version for the .NET 4.0 beta. Free to use, auto-completion add-on available ($19).
• LINQ to SQL Cheat SheetPDF download of the most popular query and update syntax for C# and VB.NET.

Official guides

• SamplesThe official samples includes a whopping 101 snippets showing how to use many of the features and syntax.
• Programming GuideIncludes steps on how to get started, querying, making changes, debugging and background information.
• WhitepaperSingle document describing the architecture, query capabilities, change tracking and life-cycle, multi-tier entities, external mapping etc.
• Changes in .NET 4.0List of the changes made to LINQ to SQL to .NET 4.0 including some possible breaking changes

Books

• Essential LINQ
• LINQ in Action
• Pro ADO.NET 3.5 with LINQ
• Pro LINQ Object Relational Mapping
• Programming Microsoft LINQ

Support

• Official MSDN forumsGreat way to get access to the product team directly as well as knowledgeable and experienced users if you have a question or a problem.
• Official LINQ to SQL FAQCoverage is a little thin on the ground but it has some useful tips.
• StackOverflow’s LINQ to SQL tagStackOverflow has rapidly become a leader in questions and answers for a wide variety of developer topics and covers LINQ to SQL (which the site uses for it’s data access too!)

[)amien