Db4o for .NET 3.5 ships with an optimizing LINQ provider. This provider is able to optimize the execution of a query by analyzing the LINQ expression tree emitted by the C# (or VB.NET) compiler to produce an equivalent SODA query which can be executed by db4o at full speed.
The Compact Framework 3.5 however includes no support for expression trees. No expression trees, no optimizing LINQ provider. A saddening state of affairs for Compact Framework db4o users.
As it turns out, expression trees are provided by the System.Linq.Expressions namespace which is not available in the standard Compact Framework 3.5 distribution.
Mono to the rescueThe Mono project provides a free software implementation of the .net framework including LINQ and the System.Linq.Expressions namespace.
Hypothesis: will the Compact Framework compiler emit expression trees if it sees a reference to a compatible assembly that provides a System.Linq.Expressions namespace?
Yes it will. LINQ for Compact Framework seemed to be possible.
There was a remaining issue. When the db4o LINQ provider cannot optimize a query down to SODA it can simply execute it as a LINQ for Objects query. This is accomplished by invoking the Compile method on the expression tree. The returned delegate can be used to evaluate the expression whenever needed. But the Compile method relies on System.Reflection.Emit which is again not supported by the Compact Framework. Hmpf.
The final piece of the puzzle appeared when
Mainsoft contributed an expression tree interpreter to Mono. Expression tree evaluation that didn't rely on System.Reflection.Emit. Yummy.
So thanks to the hard and loving work of the Mono and Mainsoft guys we are able to ship to you
the first optimizing LINQ provider for the Compact Framework.
A nice hack indeed.