LINQPad lets you interactively query SQL databases in a modern query language: LINQ. Kiss goodbye to SQL Management Studio!
LINQPad supports everything in C# 3.0 and Framework 3.5:
LINQ to Objects
LINQ to SQL
Entity Framework
LINQ to XML
(Even old-fashioned SQL!)
LINQPad is also a great way to learn LINQ: it comes preloaded with 200 examples from the book, C# 3.0 in a Nutshell. Theres no better way to experience the coolness of LINQ and functional programming.
And LINQPad is more than just a LINQ tool: its a highly ergonomic code snippet IDE that instantly executes any C#/VB expression, statement block or program – the ultimate in dynamic development. Put an end to those hundreds of Visual Studio Console projects cluttering your source folder!
Comments and Reviews
I've been using it for years with premium features activated (the Intellisense is definitely worth paying for), both at home and at work.
Every time I need to rapidly whip up some C# test code I fire up LINQPad and get right to it, since it's so much quicker and easier than having to take the long slow route through Visual Studio. I often write algorithms and thorougly test them out in LINQPad, and then transfer it into a project I'm currently working on, for production use. This way I save a lot of time and avoid debugging frustrations (the Dump extension method in LINQPad is wonderful for quick and comprehensive testing and debugging).
That it's also a simple and great way to do database work, especially through Entity Framework with LINQ, is a great bonus. I also think it's better than MS SQL Server Management Studio, though it of course doesn't have all of the features.
Highly recommended for all .NET code ninjas (and LINQ freaks). :)
I LOVE LinqPad. I cannot imagine to live without it anmyore.
You are new to c# development? Get it right away. It will help you learn c# and spped up your learning curve A LOT.
At first i was not sure what to do with it and thought "Why should i use an extra tool to test linq expressions?" But meanwhile i learned that LinqPad is the perfect playground for rapid code developing.
I do a lot of method development directly in linqpad and just copy the code into my application when the result looks like i want. No waiting till the whole app is build. Get immediate response to your changes.
For me, LINQPad is an alternative to Powershell for non-devops people.
PS is a successor to Bash so people with an MS background generally aren't familiar with the concepts or idiosyncrasies (of which there are a ton).
With LINQPad, I can just plonk down a file alongside each project or solution called "ScratchPad.linq" that allows people to write scripts in the scope of that project. It makes it really easy to enable developers to write more of their own devops code while PS/Bash still has to be used for machine-level automation.
Unwanted advice: I'd suggest using continuations (yield) rather than tasks as they transcode fairly directly into PS pipe functions should you need to take them out of the C# context.
Really lightweight + easy to use + supports sql or linq queries + can connect to a lot of databases (for example also to Skype message database)
Nucleon Database Master also supports dynamic LINQ queries: http://www.nucleonsoftware.com/DatabaseMaster.aspx