LINQPad Essential Training

Start learning LINQPad, a tool for testing .NET code snippets easily. Explore LINQPad basics, the dump feature, samples of queries, outputs, utilities, debugging, and more.

Introduction

• Get up and running with LINQPad
• Install LINQPad
• What you should know
• Get the code on GitHub

1. Getting Started with LINQPad

• The case for a lightweight editor
• Quick tour of the LINQPad editor
• Use the course files in LINQPad

2. LINQPad Basics

• Explore the expression editor
• Explore the statements editor
• Run simple LINQ query expressions
• Explore the programs editor
• Add references to libraries
• Understand the .linq file format
• Explore the WebColors data source

3. More about the Dump Feature

• WriteLine vs. the Dump extension method
• Understand the Dump helper
• Create descriptive output with the Dump header
• Run a selected area of code
• Exclude and include columns
• Repeat table headers
• Change output to grid control

4. LINQ Query Examples

• What sources are valid for LINQ to Objects
• Basic LINQ query operators
• Write LINQ query expressions
• Connect to a database
• Query the database with SQL
• Use the DataContext
• Query the database with a LINQ expression
• Configure an XML file as a data source
• Query the XML file
• Filter by attributes

5. Formatting Output

• Use a fixed-width font in the results pane
• Change the appearance with custom CSS
• Side by side output
• Highlight output

6. Utilities and Techniques

• Display difference between two objects
• Snapshot the state of an object for comparison
• Cache data between query runs

7. Use as a Code Scratchpad

• Write your own extensions
• Use references and NuGet packages
• How to use namespaces
• View any referenced class code with ILSpy

8. Dubugging

• Debugging and break points
• The debug Locals and Watch windows

9. Tips and Other Features

• Find in files
• Visualize data with the Chart extension method
• Explore the LINQPad samples
• Replace reflection with the Uncapsulate method
• The rest of LINQPad

Conclusion

• Next steps