Using LINQ as an instructional bridge between object-oriented and database programming

Language integrated query (LINQ) provides a uniform, object-oriented way to access data from heterogeneous sources, and thus simplifies the interaction between object-oriented programming and relational data. We design a mini-course of LINQ programming that aims at bridging the gap between the traditional object-oriented programming course and database programming course. Starting with the prerequisite C# language features, we introduce LINQ programming to students using an object-first approach, go deep into the key components of the LINQ framework, and finally make a smooth and effective transition to database programming.