Haklisin.

Data is different in ADO/.NET but once you get the hang of it it is a lot more flexible and accessible than in Fox. ( the disconnected nature can be a real advantage for example )

Personally, I think a good way to start is to let the tool builders provide data access strategies (through frameworks, for example ) and concentrate on the business and presentation layers. As one becomes more familar with the possibilities, one can explore other data access strategies.


>No, SQL is not antiquated, at least not yet, when there are many T-SQL thinking guys like us vs the easier and more intuitive object query:) If I were a guy who didn't know SQL, with EF and Linq, I would feel at home and do data centric applications easily. Now that I am a guy who knows some SQL, it would take me some time to see the things from the easier ObjectQuery perspective but it is addictive. Also, at least for now, there would be objections claiming EF is slow and so

rts of things like that. They are, maybe thought and right, but temporary objections. Time is ticking towards OQ benefit.
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>That LinqPad (either 2 that works with .Net 2-3.5 or the new 4) can do Linq in C#/VB and besides that can do SQL, ESQL! IMHO it has value even for those folks who chose not to use .Net. If you ask how, I use it sometimes just to 'steal' some complex SQL code. Writing such complex things in Object query is easier (because Object Query sounds more natural language to a mortal like me) than writing in T-SQL. Then I click on SQL tab and get the T-SQL syntax. Further I can directly 'Analyze SQL' there and rectify more if I need to.
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>It is interactive IDE for C#/VB/SQL/ESQL:) In LinqPad 4 it nails it in a way you start to think why MS can't build such an easy to use and fast IDE. For example (this is one of the new features demonstrated in webcast) when working with Silverlight or WPF at least in intial phases I was going nuts to find the files to add to reference. Say I need a textbox to use in WPF, I can now simply type textbox and little red underline pops on last letter, clicking give you all the libraries it is referenced and you simply pick Presentation library it adds all the needed ones. You can write and test a XAML with events, run dynamic code, connect to EF, WCF, MySQL, SQLite ... In short a little nice code test scratchpad (and of course you can save/serach etc those codes you test in folders).
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>Assuming you purchase autocompletion license (I severe I have no relation to Joseph Albahari except that I wish I could transplant his brain, he certainly deserves the promotion especially it is for your benefit more than to his:) LinqPad rocks! If you don't then it is still a free and cool utility one must have on his desktop (small download and I have both versions side by side in my Quick Launch bar:)
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>Well download, you have to see it - and watch the webcast IMHO:)
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>Cetin