Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.tools in Entity Framewwork Core

The Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.tools package provides tools for design-time development tasks in Entity Framework Core. These tools are crucial for managing your database schema and model interactions during development.

Here's a breakdown of its functionality:

Functionality:

• Migrations:
  • Creates migration files to track schema changes in your database.
  • Applies these migrations to update the database schema based on your model.
• Scaffolding:
  • Generates code for your DbContext and entity classes based on an existing database schema.
  • This helps you quickly create an initial model based on your database structure.

Two ways to use the tools:

1. Package Manager Console (PMC) tools:

   • Primarily for Visual Studio development.
   • Offers a more integrated experience within the IDE.
   • Commands start with verbs like Add-Migration and Update-Database.

2. .NET Core CLI tools:

   • Cross-platform, works on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
   • Ideal for command-line environments or non-Visual Studio development.
   • Commands begin with dotnet ef.

Choosing the right tool:

• If using Visual Studio, PMC tools are recommended for their seamless integration.
• For non-Visual Studio development or cross-platform needs, use the .NET Core CLI tools.

Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.tools