How can I use Sparx Enterprise Architect with Code First?

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We are currently using Entity Framework 6 (EF) Database First approach to generate and maintain our database model classes.

I was hoping to use Sparx Enterprise Architect (EA) to maintain a SQL Server 2012 EE database design, and then EF Database First to "Update Model from Database" to maintain the EF model classes.

Now that Microsoft has officially announced they will no longer maintain any EF design approach besides Code First, how can I work with Sparx EA to keep our Code First models up to date if I do some database redesign with EA? I know Sparx will go 2 way with the database itself, but that does not help with Code First after the first creation of the Code First model created from the database, as I can't keep importing the entire database into Code First or we would lose our Code First customizations.

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That's probably a good question, but should be addressed to the tool provider's support service. What you can get here are only shallow opinions of some end-users and if you're lucky some 3rd party Model-Driven-Generation provider may advertise their solution – xmojmr
I did ask Sparx (I'm not yet a customer) and was told Entity Framework and Code First were totally irrelevant to Sparx Enterprise Architect but don't agree with that assessment. I'm hoping for some shallow opinions from someone actually using EA with Entity Framework. It makes sense to me that EA can be used with Database First, but then that is going away now...so I don't see much use for EA in the Code First scenario and would also love some verification on if that is true or not. – Dave
To add my shallow opinion to the mass. I don't believe a ready made solution for your problem exists for Enterprise Architect. But EA is open enough to write your own transformation/add-in to accomplish what you need. – Geert Bellekens
@xmojmr - not even close to a duplicate and not at all what I am asking. – Dave
I have been down this path. Unfortunately, Code First works best if it it is the master repository of the logical structure. Similarly, Enterprise Architect works best if it is the master repository of the logical structure. After various version control problems, we ended up dropping the Code First step and generating everything from EA and using In-house tooling I'm afraid. – Chris Reynolds

1 Answers

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I've tried EA with EF and decided to go with pure EF Code First. It is a lot easier since EA just doesn't work with EF at all well. Thanks for the suggestions. Chris, if you will post as an answer will be glad to mark it as such. You were right...