What is after LINQ?

Question

In the spirit of

All about LINQ

Current LINQ providers:

• LINQ to Objects.
• LINQ to SQL.
• LINQ to XML.
• LINQ to Entities.
• LINQ to WMI.
• LINQ to LDAP.
• LINQ to Internet.
• LINQ to Dataset.
• LINQ to nHibernate.

So, what is after LINQ? Does there any data source LINQ not cable of querying it?

[Edit] From Adam Robinson's answer: What sort of data source (if any) doesn't lend itself toward a formal query definition?

Answer 1

This isn't after Linq as such, but it's probably after Linq as you currently think about it acting as a pull mechanism on a sequence.

The new .NET 4.0 IObservable<T> and IObserver<T> interfaces (a.k.a. the Rx framework) extend Linq's capabilities to allow a push mechanism and simpler construction of event driven asynchronous workflows. There's plenty more about it if you follow the other posts on the blog I linked to.

So Linq wasn't capable of querying events. But now it is!

Answer 2

You're forgetting LINQ-to-Datasets, et al. However, the question isn't so much about whether or not LINQ is capable of querying a particular data source, since exposing something to LINQ (in a provider-specific way instead of falling back on LINQ-to-objects) just relies on interface implementation. The real question would be what sort of data source (if any) doesn't lend itself toward a formal query definition.

Answer 3

• LINQ to WMI
• LINQ to LDAP
• LINQ to Internet - query the Internet (from Google)

Answer 4

Linq to nHibernate has also just been completed

Answer 5

You asked:

What sort of data source (if any) doesn't lend itself toward a formal query definition?

Linq is a provider so as long as the data source has a way of querying it then it should be possible to create a Linq provider for it. In my mind if you have a data source you also have a "formal query definition" or can create one. If not, is it really a data source or just of blob?