Entity Framework Core: Installation and Setup

Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is a modern, cross-platform, open-source, and extensible version of the popular Entity Framework data access technology. This guide will walk you through the essential steps for installing and setting up EF Core in your C# .NET projects, with a focus on integration with Azure services.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

.NET SDK: EF Core is built on .NET, so having the latest .NET SDK is crucial. You can download it from the official .NET website.
IDE: Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, or JetBrains Rider are recommended for C# development.

Installation Methods

EF Core can be installed using NuGet Package Manager, either through the Visual Studio UI or via the .NET CLI.

Using the .NET CLI

The .NET CLI is a powerful tool for managing project dependencies. To add EF Core to your project, navigate to your project's directory in the terminal and run the following commands:

First, install the EF Core tools package:

bash

dotnet tool install --global dotnet-ef

Then, add the EF Core design-time and runtime packages to your project. The specific runtime package depends on your database provider (e.g., SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite).

What are the two primary ways to install EF Core?

NuGet Package Manager (UI) and the .NET CLI.

Installing EF Core Packages (Example: SQL Server)

To add EF Core and the SQL Server provider to your project, use the following .NET CLI command:

bash

dotnet add package Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer

For design-time operations (like scaffolding), you'll also need:

bash

dotnet add package Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design

Using Visual Studio NuGet Package Manager

In Visual Studio, right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer and select "Manage NuGet Packages...".

Navigate to the "Browse" tab and search for

code

Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer

(or your chosen provider). Select the package and click "Install".

Repeat this process for

code

Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design

Configuring the DbContext

The

code

DbContext

is the main class that represents a session with the database and allows you to query and save data. You'll typically create a class that inherits from

code

DbContext

The DbContext is your gateway to the database.

Your DbContext class will contain DbSet properties for each entity (table) in your database. It also needs a constructor to configure the database connection.

Create a class, for example, MyDbContext, that inherits from Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.DbContext. Inside this class, declare DbSet<TEntity> properties for each of your domain models. The constructor typically accepts DbContextOptions<MyDbContext> to configure the database provider and connection string.

Connecting to Azure Databases

EF Core seamlessly integrates with Azure's data services. The most common scenario is connecting to Azure SQL Database.

Azure SQL Database Connection String

You'll need a connection string to establish a connection to your Azure SQL Database. This string typically includes the server name, database name, and authentication details (e.g., SQL Server Authentication or Azure Active Directory authentication).

For Azure SQL Database, consider using Azure Active Directory authentication for enhanced security and easier credential management.

In your

code

DbContext

constructor or by using dependency injection

Scaffolding Existing Databases

If you have an existing database (including one in Azure), EF Core can generate your

code

DbContext

and entity classes from it. This is known as scaffolding.

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Use the .NET CLI command for scaffolding:

bash

dotnet ef dbcontext scaffold "" Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer -o Models

Replace

code

with your actual connection string and

code

-o Models

specifies the output directory for the generated files.

Summary of Setup Steps

Step	Action	Tools
1	Install EF Core Packages	.NET CLI or NuGet Package Manager
2	Create DbContext Class	C# Code
3	Configure Connection String	appsettings.json & C# Code
4	Scaffold (Optional)	.NET CLI

Next Steps

Once installed and configured, you can start defining your data models, using migrations to manage database schema changes, and performing CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations.

Learning Resources

Get Started with Entity Framework Core(documentation)

The official Microsoft documentation provides a comprehensive overview of EF Core, including installation and basic usage.

EF Core Tools Reference(documentation)

Detailed documentation on the EF Core command-line interface (CLI) tools, essential for scaffolding and migrations.

Connecting to Azure SQL Database(documentation)

Learn how to connect to Azure SQL Database, including connection string formats and authentication methods.

EF Core: What's New(blog)

Stay updated with the latest features and improvements in Entity Framework Core from the official .NET blog.

Entity Framework Core Tutorial for Beginners(video)

A beginner-friendly video tutorial that walks through the setup and basic usage of EF Core.

Scaffolding a Database with EF Core(documentation)

Learn the process of generating EF Core models and DbContext from an existing database.

Entity Framework Core on Azure App Service(documentation)

Guidance on deploying .NET applications that use EF Core to Azure App Service.

Entity Framework Core - GitHub Repository(documentation)

Access the source code for Entity Framework Core, view issues, and contribute to the project.

SQL Server Provider for EF Core(documentation)

The official NuGet page for the SQL Server database provider for Entity Framework Core.

Understanding EF Core Connection Strings(documentation)

A comprehensive resource for various SQL Server connection string formats, useful for Azure SQL Database as well.