Using Entity Framework Core with Legacy Databases

Learn how to improve and reduce database-access code for legacy databases by using Entity Framework Core.

Introduction

• Welcome to Entity Framework Core
• What you need to know
• Platforms available to Entity Framework Core
• Why Entity Framework Core for an existing database?
• When Entity Framework Core might not be a good choice
• Using the exercise files

1. Get Started with Entity Framework Core (on Your Legacy Database)

• Setting up your project
• Connecting to the database
• Scaffolding an initial model and context
• Choose your approach
• Understanding the generated context
• Migrations against an existing database

2. Improve the Model

• Why change the generated model
• Changing names
• Using shadow properties
• Generated properties and default values
• Using backing fields
• Adding and altering indexes
• Adding concurrency tokens and timestamps

3. Model Complex Relationships

• Creating an inheritance relationship
• Navigation properties
• Alternate keys and multicolumn keys
• Accessing computed columns
• Challenge: Product recall
• Solution: Product recall

4. Work with Non-Microsoft Databases

• Other database platforms
• Create a SQLite database
• Populate a SQLite database
• PostgreSQL on a Mac
• Other options

Conclusion

• Next Steps