Will this new EF Core 8 feature be the end of Dapper?

Explore the new 'Compiled Queries' feature in EF Core 8 and its implications for Dapper.

Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of both technologies and find out which one is better suited for your specific use cases.

Understand how Compiled Queries work and how they can improve the performance of LINQ queries.

Consider factors like performance, flexibility, and development experience when choosing between EF Core and Dapper for your data access needs.

Introduction

Entity Framework Core (EF Core) and Dapper are two popular data access technologies in the .NET ecosystem.

Both have their own strengths and weaknesses, and developers often debate which one is better for their specific use cases.

With the upcoming release of EF Core 8, a new feature has been introduced that has the potential to change the game.

In this blog post, we will explore this new feature and discuss whether it could be the end of Dapper.

Understanding EF Core and Dapper

Before we dive into the new feature of EF Core 8, let's briefly understand what EF Core and Dapper are.

Entity Framework Core

EF Core is an Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) framework developed by Microsoft.

It provides a high-level abstraction for interacting with databases, allowing developers to work with database entities as regular .NET objects.

EF Core supports various database providers and offers features like change tracking, migrations, and query optimization.

Dapper

Dapper, on the other hand, is a micro-ORM developed by the Stack Exchange team.

It focuses on simplicity and performance, providing a lightweight and efficient way to execute SQL queries and map the results to .NET objects.

Dapper is known for its speed and flexibility, making it a popular choice for developers who require fine-grained control over their database operations.

The New Feature in EF Core 8

EF Core 8 introduces a new feature called 'Compiled Queries'.

This feature allows developers to pre-compile LINQ queries into efficient SQL statements, improving the performance of query execution.

By compiling queries at runtime, EF Core eliminates the overhead of query translation and reduces the number of database round-trips.

How Compiled Queries Work

With Compiled Queries, developers can define reusable query templates using lambda expressions.

These templates are then compiled into delegate methods that can be invoked with different parameters.

The compiled queries are cached by EF Core, resulting in faster query execution for subsequent invocations.

Here's an example of how a compiled query is defined in EF Core 8:


public static Func<DbContext, int, IQueryable<Product>> GetProductsByCategory =
    EF.CompileQuery((DbContext context, int categoryId) =>
        context.Products.Where(p => p.CategoryId == categoryId));

Once the query is compiled, it can be invoked multiple times with different category IDs:


var dbContext = new MyDbContext();
var products = GetProductsByCategory(dbContext, 1);
var otherProducts = GetProductsByCategory(dbContext, 2);

Implications for Dapper

The introduction of Compiled Queries in EF Core 8 raises the question of whether it could render Dapper obsolete.

After all, both EF Core and Dapper aim to improve database performance and simplify data access.

However, it is important to note that Dapper and EF Core have different design philosophies and target different use cases.

Performance

Dapper is known for its exceptional performance, primarily because it focuses on raw SQL execution and lightweight object mapping.

While EF Core's Compiled Queries improve query performance, they may not match the raw speed of Dapper in certain scenarios.

Dapper's ability to fine-tune SQL queries and map results to custom object structures gives it an edge in performance-sensitive applications.

Flexibility

Another area where Dapper shines is flexibility.

Dapper allows developers to write and execute complex SQL queries, giving them complete control over the database operations.

This level of control is especially valuable when dealing with legacy databases or complex data structures.

EF Core, on the other hand, abstracts away the underlying SQL and provides a higher-level query API.

While this abstraction simplifies common scenarios, it may limit the flexibility required in certain situations.

Development Experience

EF Core offers a rich development experience with features like migrations, change tracking, and automatic query translation.

These features make it easier to work with databases and reduce the amount of boilerplate code required.

Dapper, being a micro-ORM, has a more minimalistic approach and focuses on providing a lightweight and efficient data access layer.

The choice between EF Core and Dapper ultimately depends on the specific requirements of the project and the developer's preference for simplicity or advanced features.

Conclusion

The new Compiled Queries feature in EF Core 8 is undoubtedly a significant improvement that enhances the performance of LINQ queries.

However, it is unlikely to be the end of Dapper. Dapper's raw performance, flexibility, and lightweight nature make it a compelling choice for certain use cases.

Developers should carefully evaluate their project requirements and consider factors like performance, flexibility, and development experience before choosing between EF Core and Dapper.

In conclusion, while EF Core 8's new feature brings it closer to Dapper in terms of performance, Dapper's unique strengths ensure its relevance in the data access landscape.

Both EF Core and Dapper have their place in the developer's toolbox, and the choice between them should be based on the specific needs of the project.

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