3 Using Your Data Provider with the ADO.NET Entity Framework The ADO.NET Entity Framework is an object-relational mapping (ORM) framework for the .NET Framework. Developers can use it to create data access applications by programming against a conceptual application model instead of programming directly against a relational storage schema. This model allows developers to decrease the amount of code that must be written and maintained in data-centric applications. DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET Entity Framework data providers can be used with applications that use the standard ADO.NET features or with the ADO.NET Entity Framework. ■ The Oracle ADO.NET Entity Framework data provider can be used with applications that use the features of the standard .NET Framework 4.0 or higher and the ADO.NET Entity Framework 4.1 and 4.2. To use Plain Old CLR Objects (POCO) entities or Model First, you must use .NET Framework 4.0 or higher. To use Code First, you must use ADO.NET Entity Framework 4.1 or 4.2. ■ The DB2 and Sybase ADO.NET Entity Framework data providers can be used with applications that use the features of the standard .NET Framework 3.5 AP1, including ADO.NET Entity Framework functionality. This means that these data providers support the Database First approach. To use Plain Old CLR Objects (POCO) entities, you must use .NET Framework 4.0 or higher. See the README text file shipped with your Progress DataDirect product for the file name of the ADO.NET Entity Framework data provider.