Essential NuGet Packages for Migrating Database to PostgreSQL with Entity Framework Core

Find out which `NuGet packages` are essential when migrating your database to `PostgreSQL` using `Entity Framework Core`.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/71832368/ asked by the user 'mnu-nasir' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/2975931/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/71837493/ provided by the user 'ErikEJ' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/183934/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: List of Nuget packages for migrating database to PostgreSQL with Entity Framework Core

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Essential NuGet Packages for Migrating Database to PostgreSQL with Entity Framework Core

Creating a project using Entity Framework Core (EF Core) with the code-first approach can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when deciding what tools and packages you need to work effectively with your PostgreSQL database. If you have found yourself wondering which NuGet packages to install for a smooth transition to PostgreSQL, you're in the right place!

Understanding the Project Requirements

When working with EF Core to migrate your database to PostgreSQL, you will encounter a few packages that can help facilitate this process. Here’s a brief overview of these packages and their relevance in the migration process:

Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore: This is the core package that contains the basic functionalities of EF Core.

Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Relational: This package enables working with relational databases.

Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Tools: The tools package includes command-line tools for EF Core.

Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design: This package can be helpful when dealing with design-time operations like migrations.

Npgsql.EntityFrameworkCore.PostgreSQL: This package provides PostgreSQL database provider services for EF Core.

EFCore.NamingConventions: This optional package helps with automatic naming conventions to follow database standards.

The Key Package to Install

Initially, if you are considering which package to prioritize for your project, the most important package you need to install is:

Npgsql.EntityFrameworkCore.PostgreSQL

This package is crucial as it relies on several of the other packages mentioned above and allows EF Core to connect and interact with PostgreSQL databases effectively. This means that if you install Npgsql.EntityFrameworkCore.PostgreSQL, it will automatically bring in its required dependencies, including:

Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore

Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Relational

And possibly others delineated above.

Should You Install All Packages?

While it might be tempting to install all the packages listed, it is not necessary to do so. If your primary goal is to migrate to PostgreSQL successfully, starting with Npgsql.EntityFrameworkCore.PostgreSQL is sufficient. Here is a step-by-step approach:

Install the Key Package:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Use Additional Packages as Needed:

If you find that you need functionalities from the other packages (like design-time tools or tools for migrations), you can then gradually install them as your project demands.

Conclusion

In summary, when migrating a database to PostgreSQL with Entity Framework Core using the code-first approach, the only required NuGet package to begin with is the Npgsql.EntityFrameworkCore.PostgreSQL. Installing this package is your first step toward ensuring a smooth migration process. As your project evolves, you can introduce additional packages as necessary.

Happy coding, and enjoy your PostgreSQL migration journey!