I've come across two issues with the Entity Framework, one that effects any language and one just for VB.NET

It's quite simple, the Entity Framework generates edmx files, however that Inherits Global.System.Data.Objects.DataClasses.EntityObject, which means when you create your Partial class you can not Inherit from your own base class.

The second issue is related to VB.NET, as if you are intending to use Dependence Injection or IoC you need to have an Interface defined and to implement an Interface in VB.NET you must add Implements after each Property and Method, which you can not do as the framework generates it's own code.

I've attached both C# and VB.NET examples, none of which compile

Entity Framework Issues.zip (42.58 kb)

After using StructureMap for a while I thought it would be nice to generate a simple example of how it all works, so I've built in Visual Studio 2008, both C# and a VB.NET version.

StructreMap Example.zip (4.47 kb)

StructureMapExampleVB.zip (9.41 kb)

For more information on StructureMap please go to their main website

If you need to know more about IoC's then it's worth making a look at the following links:

Inversion of Control

List of .NET Dependency Injection Containers (IOC)

IoC Benchmarks

MVC Storefront: Dependency Injection

NinJect