Entity Framework Oracle Provider using ODP.net

For some time I have been keeping an eye on Entity Framework providers for Oracle as we are migrating over to Oracle Database 11g. A provider that wraps ODP.net is the requirement. ODP.net is the recommended access client after all right! There has been next to no word from Oracle on this, not in the mind set to pay for third party providers at this stage, and not finding an open source project I had it in the back of my mind to attempt writing one.

Around Aug 2008 Microsoft published a sample Entity Framework provider for Oracle which uses the Microsoft OracleClient - which has been deprecated in .Net4.0. As Microsoft folk were nice enough to do half the work for us it was a good time to give this a shot. I’ve converted the project to use ODP.net 11.1.

The project EFOralceOdpProvider is hosted on Codeplex - of course. So far it has been subject to very little testing. Please do send any feedback and if you would like to contribute to this project please drop me a line and I’ll add you to the project.

http://eforacleodpprovider.codeplex.com

Update 14/04/2011: In Feb 2011 Oracle finally release a beta version of their official Entity Framework Provider. Download is available here http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/dotnet/downloads/oracleefbeta-302521.html