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  3. Code First, do you like it?

Code First, do you like it?

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  • S Slacker007

    We are thinking about moving from database first, to code first, with our new projects.

    D Offline
    D Offline
    Duncan Edwards Jones
    wrote on last edited by
    #9

    Not really, no. It feels better to start with but when you have a decent size model you basically have no way to visualise it except turning it into a database and then looking at that.

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    • S Slacker007

      We are thinking about moving from database first, to code first, with our new projects.

      L Offline
      L Offline
      Lost User
      wrote on last edited by
      #10

      I wouldn't know how to normalize a code-first model :)

      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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      • S Slacker007

        We are thinking about moving from database first, to code first, with our new projects.

        H Offline
        H Offline
        HobbyProggy
        wrote on last edited by
        #11

        For my limited experience, what i can tell either way you got to adjust the side you started first. Even with a virtual Database you'll reach the point where you just transferred it and finished the db, then someone is asking for another field. Or at what point you say the app is ready and you can start to set up the Database? I started DB first, adjusted the programm, then the db, then both and so on. Seems like somethings never "finish".

        Rules for the FOSW ![^]

        if(this.signature != "")
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        • V Vark111

          Neither. I prefer to hand create both. Call me old school, but I don't trust auto created databases or entity layers. Too many times someone makes a "minor" tweak to one or the other and then forgets to regenerate, then you're hosed.

          Z Offline
          Z Offline
          ZurdoDev
          wrote on last edited by
          #12

          Vark111 wrote:

          I don't trust auto created databases or entity layers.

          :thumbsup:

          There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

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          • R RUs123

            Depends..if someone stops me on the way back to my desk before I had my coffee, I may have to drink a bit of it before I answer their question. :-D

            L Offline
            L Offline
            Lost User
            wrote on last edited by
            #13

            If you ever meet me: You won't like me before I had three mugs of strong coffee that day. Just see my signature.. :)

            Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!

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            • S Slacker007

              We are thinking about moving from database first, to code first, with our new projects.

              A Offline
              A Offline
              Amarnath S
              wrote on last edited by
              #14

              Spec First, before any of these :-)

              S 1 Reply Last reply
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              • V Vark111

                Neither. I prefer to hand create both. Call me old school, but I don't trust auto created databases or entity layers. Too many times someone makes a "minor" tweak to one or the other and then forgets to regenerate, then you're hosed.

                S Offline
                S Offline
                Slacker007
                wrote on last edited by
                #15

                Vark111 wrote:

                Too many times someone makes a "minor" tweak to one or the other and then forgets to regenerate, then you're hosed.

                I have read, and heard, many stories about this. It is one of our concerns.

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                • S Slacker007

                  We are thinking about moving from database first, to code first, with our new projects.

                  M Offline
                  M Offline
                  Marc Clifton
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #16

                  Programmers rarely think correctly in terms of relationships between objects when they do code first. They're usually thinking in terms of denormalized data. Certainly, I do, because it's the denormalized data that I usually want to display to the user. So, that's the first problem with code first. Programmers are typically not very good at figuring out normalization and the nuances of left joins, right joins, one-to-many and many-to-many relationships, at least as to how you'd implement them in a DB. Sure, the code first stuff *should* be able to generate the lookup tables if you define the relationship ordinality correctly, but as others have written, I'd rather have direct control. Even DB people make a mess of relationships. Lastly, there's a weird reality that I can define a decent normalized database, but when I go to use it in the code, I realize that I screwed up understanding some relationship that I thought I understood when creating the DB, but I realize I got wrong when I go actually trying to use it based on the requirements. It's weird that that can happen, but it does, at least in my experience. [tldr:] Neither code first nor database first is the correct approach. It needs to be "code and database together." And code first does NOT get you there. Marc

                  Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project!

                  S 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • L Lost User

                    I wouldn't know how to normalize a code-first model :)

                    Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

                    S Offline
                    S Offline
                    Slacker007
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #17

                    Just saw a demo online a few days ago, and the "demo guys" were having trouble with some areas with code first, and they were the "experts". So far, I am not entirely convinced that it is a development strategy worth using for the long term. We shall see, I guess.

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                    • S Slacker007

                      We are thinking about moving from database first, to code first, with our new projects.

                      F Offline
                      F Offline
                      Foothill
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #18

                      For me, it depends on database use. If the database is going to be highly transactional, I would start with the database as the Entity framework won't optimize table structures and indexes like building it by hand would. If it is just a data store, then start with the app first so you can focus on the presentation layer.

                      if (Object.DividedByZero == true) { Universe.Implode(); }

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                      • M Marc Clifton

                        Programmers rarely think correctly in terms of relationships between objects when they do code first. They're usually thinking in terms of denormalized data. Certainly, I do, because it's the denormalized data that I usually want to display to the user. So, that's the first problem with code first. Programmers are typically not very good at figuring out normalization and the nuances of left joins, right joins, one-to-many and many-to-many relationships, at least as to how you'd implement them in a DB. Sure, the code first stuff *should* be able to generate the lookup tables if you define the relationship ordinality correctly, but as others have written, I'd rather have direct control. Even DB people make a mess of relationships. Lastly, there's a weird reality that I can define a decent normalized database, but when I go to use it in the code, I realize that I screwed up understanding some relationship that I thought I understood when creating the DB, but I realize I got wrong when I go actually trying to use it based on the requirements. It's weird that that can happen, but it does, at least in my experience. [tldr:] Neither code first nor database first is the correct approach. It needs to be "code and database together." And code first does NOT get you there. Marc

                        Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project!

                        S Offline
                        S Offline
                        Slacker007
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #19

                        Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it. :thumbsup:

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • L Lost User

                          If you ever meet me: You won't like me before I had three mugs of strong coffee that day. Just see my signature.. :)

                          Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!

                          S Offline
                          S Offline
                          Slacker007
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #20

                          Light roast (mild flavor), has more caffeine than manly, dark roast. Just saying. :-D Although, I prefer the flavor of a medium roast to a Sumatra, etc..

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                          • S Slacker007

                            Just saw a demo online a few days ago, and the "demo guys" were having trouble with some areas with code first, and they were the "experts". So far, I am not entirely convinced that it is a development strategy worth using for the long term. We shall see, I guess.

                            L Offline
                            L Offline
                            Lost User
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #21

                            Slacker007 wrote:

                            Just saw a demo online a few days ago

                            Still got the link?

                            Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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                            • V Vark111

                              Neither. I prefer to hand create both. Call me old school, but I don't trust auto created databases or entity layers. Too many times someone makes a "minor" tweak to one or the other and then forgets to regenerate, then you're hosed.

                              L Offline
                              L Offline
                              Lost User
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #22

                              I agree :thumbsup:

                              1 Reply Last reply
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                              • S Slacker007

                                We are thinking about moving from database first, to code first, with our new projects.

                                T Offline
                                T Offline
                                Tom Deketelaere
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #23

                                Never liked the code first approach. I'm currently working on a project where it used to be code first, so the database was created by code. (due to external factors we now have database first, but that's to long to explain) Whoever did it messed up royally. - Many to many relationships where there should be one to many. - Tables that just don't make sense. - Overly complicated structures. - Datatypes that just don't make sense. - Missing foreign keys. - ... It's a major pain to work with it now (even with database first) due to those things, unfortunately the database can't be changed anymore so I'm stuck with it (some things I can still fix but most I can't, not without rewriting a major part off the code). About 30% of the tables in that db shouldn't even exist so... If you'r going code first make sure you have a good handle on it because if done wrong it can be a nightmare to work with.

                                Tom

                                S 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • S Slacker007

                                  We are thinking about moving from database first, to code first, with our new projects.

                                  L Offline
                                  L Offline
                                  Lost User
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #24

                                  that will be 5 concurrent users before the crash.

                                  it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • A Amarnath S

                                    Spec First, before any of these :-)

                                    S Offline
                                    S Offline
                                    Slacker007
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #25

                                    Avijnata wrote:

                                    Spec First

                                    That goes without saying.

                                    A 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • V Vark111

                                      Neither. I prefer to hand create both. Call me old school, but I don't trust auto created databases or entity layers. Too many times someone makes a "minor" tweak to one or the other and then forgets to regenerate, then you're hosed.

                                      J Offline
                                      J Offline
                                      jgakenhe
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #26

                                      Thank you. I have not tried it yet and its nice to hear not everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Using a wizard to create your database just sounds like trouble.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • T Tom Deketelaere

                                        Never liked the code first approach. I'm currently working on a project where it used to be code first, so the database was created by code. (due to external factors we now have database first, but that's to long to explain) Whoever did it messed up royally. - Many to many relationships where there should be one to many. - Tables that just don't make sense. - Overly complicated structures. - Datatypes that just don't make sense. - Missing foreign keys. - ... It's a major pain to work with it now (even with database first) due to those things, unfortunately the database can't be changed anymore so I'm stuck with it (some things I can still fix but most I can't, not without rewriting a major part off the code). About 30% of the tables in that db shouldn't even exist so... If you'r going code first make sure you have a good handle on it because if done wrong it can be a nightmare to work with.

                                        Tom

                                        S Offline
                                        S Offline
                                        Slacker007
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #27

                                        Tom Deketelaere wrote:

                                        If you'r going code first make sure you have a good handle on it because if done wrong it can be a nightmare to work with.

                                        This is a real concern for us, as well. Thanks for the feedback.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • V Vark111

                                          Neither. I prefer to hand create both. Call me old school, but I don't trust auto created databases or entity layers. Too many times someone makes a "minor" tweak to one or the other and then forgets to regenerate, then you're hosed.

                                          G Offline
                                          G Offline
                                          GuyThiebaut
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #28

                                          I like to roll my own too - if you know what you are doing then it works well.

                                          “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

                                          ― Christopher Hitchens

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