Entity framework 4.3 run migrations at application start

Question

What is the best way to execute all required db migrations at application start with EF 4.3?

Answer 1

The best way should be using new MigrateDatabaseToLatestVersion initializer.

Database.SetInitializer<YourContext>(     new MigrateDatabaseToLatestVersion<YourContext, YourMigrationsConfig>()); Database.Initialize(false); 

Answer 2

A great description of the EF 4.3 configuration options can be found at EF 4.3 Configuration File Settings on the ADO.NET team blog. The very last section describes Database Initializers, including the new Code First MigrateDatabaseToLatestVersion initializer.

Although Entity Framework—like so many other features of .NET 4.x—favors convention over configuration, this is one case where it might be very useful to set the MigrateDatabaseToLatestVersion database initializer through your application's config file rather than explicitly code it into your application.