How to check if database schema matches Entity Framework schema?

Question

For my surprise, using the CreateDatabaseIfNotExists context initializer, the line

context.Database.Initialize(true)

doesn't throw an exception if the schema does not match my code first schema.

Is there a way to validate if the current database matches our schema before, for instance, we try to access a entity, whose table doesn't exist on the database anymore, and an exception is thrown by EF?

Answer 1

You can call CompatibleWithModel to determine if the database matches the model. If you set the parameter to true it will throw an exception if no model data is found in the database.

bool isCompatible = context.Database.CompatibleWithModel(true);

Answer 2

EF does not cross check database schema with model each time you start your application. Instead it is looking for the model that is saved to the database (__MigrationsHistory table and before EdmMetadata) and compare this saved model with the model you are using. If models match then database will be used. If models don't match an exception will be thrown. If you have neither __MigrationHistory nor EdmMetadata table in your database EF will assume that you are using Database first approach with DbContext and your database matches the model. If you want to compare the database with your model you could dump Edmx for your model (using EdmxWriter.WriteEdmx) and use the Visual Studio and EF designer get the Edmx from Database and compare SSDL parts.