Accessing Data with Type Providers

Modern applications need to access data from a variety of external data sources, including XML, SQL, and JSON-based services. In this course, we look at F# type providers. With type providers, you can easily explore and access a wide range of data sources directly from your code editor. We start by learning about type providers using the F# interactive and then we demonstrate how you can integrate data access code written in F# as part of a larger C# ASP.NET project.

Learn how to

  • Use type providers to call REST-based services
  • Effectively work with XML, JSON and CSV data
  • Learn how to integrate F# with ASP.NET and C# projects
  • Access data in SQL databases and work with Azure
  • Use F# asynchronous workflows and agents to write scalable concurrent code

Course prerequisites

The course doesn’t require prior experience with F# or functional programming. To benefit from the course, you should have working knowledge of some object-oriented language. Some knowledge of ASP.NET will be beneficial.

Course labs & exercises

A brief theoretical introduction to every concept will be followed by numerous practical demos and exercises. At the end of the first day, you'll leave with a complete real-world F# application. In the second day, we'll solve a number of complex problems in concurrent and data-oriented programming.

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In partnership with Pluralsight.

Course outline

F# Type Providers and Data Exploration

  • What Is This Course About?
  • F#: What, How, When, and Why
  • Demo: A Sneak Peek at F#
  • Data and Type Providers
  • Demo: The World Bank Type Provider
  • How Type Providers Actually Work
  • F# for Analytical Components
  • Demo: Movie Web App Overview

Calling REST Services with F# Data

  • Introducing the F# Data Library
  • Demo: Getting Top 100 Movies
  • Demo: Finding Movie Reviews
  • XML and JSON Type Providers
  • Demo: Getting Movie Details and Cast
  • The F# Development Process

Building C#-friendly Data Access Library

  • Introducing Typical F# Library Structure
  • Demo: Creating F# Data Access Library
  • Building C#-friendly Libraries in F#
  • Demo: Calling F# Library from C#
  • F# Asynchronous Workflows and Agents
  • Demo: Calling Services Asynchronously

Integrating Type Providers with ASP.NET

  • Choosing Web Technology for F#
  • Demo: Calling F# from ASP.NET Web Site
  • Configuring MovieNews Application
  • Demo: Wrapping up and Azure Deployment

Type Providers for Azure and SQL

  • Further F# Type Providers
  • Demo: Storing Latest Movies in SQ
  • Demo: Caching Requests with Azure Blobs
  • Joining the F# Community