Are EF code-first models intended to fully describe a database's structure? - entity-framework

Question

I'm a little confused as to the purpose of a data model in Entity Framework code-first. Because EF will auto-generate a database from scratch for you if it doesn't already exist using nothing more than the data model (including data annotations and Fluent API stuff in DbContext.OnModelCreating), I was assuming that the data model should fully describe your database's structure, and you wouldn't need to modify anything fundamental after that.
However, I came across this Codeplex issue in which one of the EF Triage Team members suggests that custom indexes be added in data migrations, but not as annotations to your data model fields, or Fluent API code.
But wouldn't that mean that anyone auto-generating the database from scratch would not get those custom indexes added to their DB? The assumption seems to be that once you start using data migrations, you're never going to create the database from scratch again. What if you're working in a team and a new team member comes along with a new SQL Server install? Are you expected to copy over a database from another team member? What if you want to start using a new DBMS, like Postgres? I thought one of the cool things about EF was that it was DBMS-independent, but if you're no longer able to create the database from scratch, you can no longer do things in a DBMS-independent way.
For the reasons I outlined above, wouldn't adding custom indexes in a data migration but not in the data model be a bad idea? For that matter, wouldn't adding any DB structure changes in a migration but not in the data model be a bad idea?

Answer 1

Are EF code-first models intended to fully describe a database's structure?
No, they don't fully describe the database structure or schema.Still there are methods to make the database fully described using EF. They are as below:
You can use the new CTP5’s ExecuteSqlCommand method on Database class which allows raw SQL commands to be executed against the database.
The best place to invoke SqlCommand method for this purpose is inside a Seed method that has been overridden in a custom Initializer class. For example:
protected override void Seed(EntityMappingContext context)
{
context.Database.ExecuteSqlCommand("CREATE INDEX IX_NAME ON ...");
}
You can even add Unique Constraints this way.
It is not a workaround, but will be enforced as the database will be generated.
OR
If you are badly in need of the attribute, then here it goes
[AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Property, Inherited = false, AllowMultiple = true)]
public class IndexAttribute : Attribute
{
public IndexAttribute(string name, bool unique = false)
{
this.Name = name;
this.IsUnique = unique;
}
public string Name { get; private set; }
public bool IsUnique { get; private set; }
}
After this , you will have an initializer which you will call in your OnModelCreating method as below:
public class IndexInitializer<T> : IDatabaseInitializer<T> where T : DbContext
{
private const string CreateIndexQueryTemplate = "CREATE {unique} INDEX {indexName} ON {tableName} ({columnName});";
public void InitializeDatabase(T context)
{
const BindingFlags PublicInstance = BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance;
Dictionary<IndexAttribute, List<string>> indexes = new Dictionary<IndexAttribute, List<string>>();
string query = string.Empty;
foreach (var dataSetProperty in typeof(T).GetProperties(PublicInstance).Where(p => p.PropertyType.Name == typeof(DbSet<>).Name))
{
var entityType = dataSetProperty.PropertyType.GetGenericArguments().Single();
TableAttribute[] tableAttributes = (TableAttribute[])entityType.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(TableAttribute), false);
indexes.Clear();
string tableName = tableAttributes.Length != 0 ? tableAttributes[0].Name : dataSetProperty.Name;
foreach (PropertyInfo property in entityType.GetProperties(PublicInstance))
{
IndexAttribute[] indexAttributes = (IndexAttribute[])property.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(IndexAttribute), false);
NotMappedAttribute[] notMappedAttributes = (NotMappedAttribute[])property.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(NotMappedAttribute), false);
if (indexAttributes.Length > 0 && notMappedAttributes.Length == 0)
{
ColumnAttribute[] columnAttributes = (ColumnAttribute[])property.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(ColumnAttribute), false);
foreach (IndexAttribute indexAttribute in indexAttributes)
{
if (!indexes.ContainsKey(indexAttribute))
{
indexes.Add(indexAttribute, new List<string>());
}
if (property.PropertyType.IsValueType || property.PropertyType == typeof(string))
{
string columnName = columnAttributes.Length != 0 ? columnAttributes[0].Name : property.Name;
indexes[indexAttribute].Add(columnName);
}
else
{
indexes[indexAttribute].Add(property.PropertyType.Name + "_" + GetKeyName(property.PropertyType));
}
}
}
}
foreach (IndexAttribute indexAttribute in indexes.Keys)
{
query += CreateIndexQueryTemplate.Replace("{indexName}", indexAttribute.Name)
.Replace("{tableName}", tableName)
.Replace("{columnName}", string.Join(", ", indexes[indexAttribute].ToArray()))
.Replace("{unique}", indexAttribute.IsUnique ? "UNIQUE" : string.Empty);
}
}
if (context.Database.CreateIfNotExists())
{
context.Database.ExecuteSqlCommand(query);
}
}
private string GetKeyName(Type type)
{
PropertyInfo[] propertyInfos = type.GetProperties(BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy | BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.Public);
foreach (PropertyInfo propertyInfo in propertyInfos)
{
if (propertyInfo.GetCustomAttribute(typeof(KeyAttribute), true) != null)
return propertyInfo.Name;
}
throw new Exception("No property was found with the attribute Key");
}
}
Then overload OnModelCreating in your DbContext
protected override void OnModelCreating(DbModelBuilder modelBuilder)
{
Database.SetInitializer(new IndexInitializer<MyContext>());
base.OnModelCreating(modelBuilder);
}
Apply the index attribute to your Entity type, with this solution you can have multiple fields in the same index just use the same name and unique.
OR
You can do the migrations later on.
Note:
I have taken a lot of this code from here.

Answer 2

The question seems to be if there is value in having migrations added mid-stream, or if those will cause problems for future database initializations on different machines.
The initial migration that is created also contains the entire data model as it exists, so by adding migrations (enable-migrations in the Package Manager Console) you are, in effect, creating the built-in mechanism for your database to be properly created down the road for other developers.
If you're doing this, I do recommend modifying the database initialization strategy to run all your existing migrations, lest EF should start up and get the next dev's database out of sync.
Something like this would work:
Database.SetInitializer(new MigrateDatabaseToLatestVersion<YourNamespace.YourDataContext, Migrations.Configuration>());
So, no, this won't inherently introduce problems for future work/developers. Remember that migrations are just turned into valid SQL that executes against the database...you can even use script mode to output the TSQL required to make the DB modifications based on anything in the migrations you have created.
Cheers.