Introduction to Entity Framework
Learn the fundamentals of Entity Framework, data modeling, querying, and practical examples for modern .NET applications.
Oleksii Anzhiiak
Software Architect, Senior .NET Engineer & Co-Founder
By the end you'll be able to
- Build data access layers using EF Core
- Write efficient LINQ-based queries
- Manage database schema changes safely
- Avoid common ORM performance pitfalls
- Integrate EF Core into ASP.NET Core apps
Is this course for you?
This is right for you if you…
- You know C# and you know basic SQL — the gap is 'how do I wire them together in real .NET code'
- You're stitching code-first migrations into a project and want to do it once and not break production
- You've used EF before and the queries were slow but you didn't know why — this course is the why
Don't take this course if you…
- You don't know C# yet — this course assumes you're comfortable with classes, async, and LINQ basics
- You don't know SQL — EF generates SQL under the hood; without the underlying language you can't debug what it produces. Take #4 first
- You want to learn raw ADO.NET — this is the opposite course. ORMs trade SQL transparency for ergonomics
Who teaches this
Oleksii Anzhiiak
Software Architect, Senior .NET Engineer & Co-Founder
Oleksii Anzhiiak is a Software Architect, Senior .NET Engineer, and Co-Founder of ToyCRM.com and ProfectusLab. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, high-load backend development, and identity platforms. Oleksii designs complex architectures, builds secure authentication systems, and develops modern engineering education programs that help students achieve real career results.
Currently leads architecture for ToyCRM.com — a multi-tenant CRM platform built on .NET by our team. The same patterns and design decisions used there appear directly in the courses: identity & auth, distributed services, code review culture. You learn from engineers actively shipping production code, not from a textbook.
Syllabus
This course covers the foundational concepts of Entity Framework:
- 1 Module 1: Introduction to Entity Framework
- 2 Module 2: Overview of the Entity Data Model (EDM)
- 3 Module 3: Practical Examples & Real-World Usage
Prerequisites
Basic computer skills and willingness to learn. Course materials will guide you step by step.
Basic C# and .NET knowledge required.
What you'll build
Three sessions, one outcome: a working data-access layer you wrote on top of EF Core that handles migrations, lazy-loading traps, and the N+1 query problem properly. Short on purpose — EF is not 'a 9-week course' worth of content; it's the missing connector between your C# and your SQL.
- DbContext configuration and lifecycle
- Entity mapping and relationships
- LINQ queries and projections
- Code First migrations
- Preventing N+1 queries
- Tracking vs NoTracking queries
- EF Core performance optimization
Where this fits in your career
Read alongside this course
From C# to AI Agents: A .NET Developer's Path to Building with Claude
You already know C#, ASP.NET Core, and how to ship production backends. Here's how to reuse those skills to build serious AI agents with Claude — without throwing away your stack.
C# vs Python in 2025: Which Should You Learn First?
A senior engineer's honest take on choosing between C# and Python as your first serious language — based on job market data, learning curve, and long-term career impact.
How to Pass a System Design Interview: A Senior Engineer's Playbook
Most system design advice is theoretical noise. This is the repeatable framework I use to evaluate candidates — and that you can use to pass any system design interview at a mid or senior level.
Pricing & what's included
What's included
- 3 live sessions × 2 hours each — taught by the instructor, not a recording playback
- Slide deck for every session — yours to keep and refer back to
- Working code files and any data files used in class — cloned to your machine
- Weekly homework with personal code review from the instructor
- Recording on request — give the teacher a heads-up ("can't make Tuesday, please record it") and the session is recorded for you
Frequently asked questions
How much time per week will this take?
Plan for the live sessions plus roughly 1.5–2 hours of practice per session. Most students who finish on schedule put in 4–6 hours a week total. If you put in less, you still finish — it just takes longer.
What if I miss a class?
Tell the teacher BEFORE the session — "I can't make Tuesday, please record it" — and the teacher records that lesson and sends it to you. Recordings aren't a default catch-up archive; they're produced on request when you give a heads-up. After the lesson you do the homework, bring questions to the next session.
What's included in the price?
Live sessions with the teacher; the slide deck for each session (yours to keep); the working code files and any data files used in class; weekly homework with code review; and recordings of the sessions you give advance notice for. Anything beyond that — a certificate, alumni access, mock interviews — is listed explicitly in "What's included" above the FAQ for the courses where it applies.
What if I sign up and the teacher isn't a fit?
For courses with more than 5 lessons, the first session is effectively a trial — if after lesson 1 you decide the teacher isn't a fit, you don't pay for it. We'd rather you walk away after one lesson than push through 9 weeks of bad chemistry. (Courses with 5 or fewer lessons are short enough that the standard pricing applies — the trial offer doesn't make sense at that length.)
Can I get a refund partway through?
Yes, while more than half the course is still unused — i.e. you've attended fewer than 50% of the lessons. The refund covers the unused portion proportionally. Past the halfway point we don't refund, on the assumption that the value has been delivered.
Can I switch the language of instruction?
The live sessions run in the language listed under "Available Languages" above. Slides and code files are typically available in all four (English, Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian). Many students attend sessions in one language and read materials in another — that's normal.
Will I be ready for a real job after this course?
One course rarely gets anyone hired by itself — for any field. What this course gives you is the foundation a junior hiring manager expects: working code you wrote yourself, the vocabulary to read other people's code, and the practice habits that make you employable. The honest answer to "am I ready?" is on our roadmap (link in the page header) — open the level you want to reach and read the "You're ready when" checklist.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes for courses with a "Monthly Payment" option in the at-a-glance ribbon — usually two or three equal monthly payments. Courses without that option are paid in one go. If the price is the blocker, write to us — we look at every case.