Data source selection for C# win app

Eduard Keilholz

Hey friends, I hav a small question. I'm starting to develop a C# Windows application from scratch. The application will need a datasource. Previously I've always developed using MS SQL Server but for this app I don't want to have 'having an sql server instance' as a requirement. I want a single file database or something, and is possible with LINQ support. What kind of datasource are recommended?

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dan sh

How much data does your application uses? If it not much, you can use XML or Access. If it is large amount of data, use a real database.

Dr Walt Fair PE

It's hard t say what would work best for you since you gave no real requirements other than single file and not SQLServer. Using an Access (Jet) database is one possibility. The problems with Access are its size limitation and that it's a pain-in-the-butt to create a new Access database programatically. If you don't have to worry about those things, then Access (Jet) might work just fine. You might also consider using SQLite, although it also has limitations and I'm not sure if it supports Linq.

CQ de W5ALT

Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software

Dan Mos

try db4o. It's an object database, meaning you store the objects directly. It's fast to develop and easy to use. But only for local stuff. I wouldn't use it as a DB server. It's free under GPL. The learning curve it's a breeze. The new version suports LINQ too. Here is a direct link to their tutorial. :)

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