This article spotlights the differences between the dotConnect for MySQL and the MySQL Connector/NET.
From interface point of view, the providers look pretty much alike. The question is, what features are supported and how they are supported. This article does not cover performance issues, as performance is approximately equal.
This article consists of the following sections:
- Features table
- Detailed Information on Features
- MySQL-specific Features
- Advanced data access features
- .NET Framework Features
- IDE, design time
- Other features
Features Table
The following table enumerates major useful features that assist development of MySQL applications. Each feature in the table is briefly described later in the article.
Feature dotConnect for MySQL
MySQL Connector/NET
Connectivity Direct mode to access database without MySQL client library 
Wide client and server versions support Partial
Secure connections support Partial
Proxy connections support 
Compression support Unicode connections support Connection through HTTP tunnels Advanced data access features All MySQL data types support All-in-one component to retrieve and manipulate data from MySQL server data source MySqlScript to execute scripts MySqlLoader for fast data loading MySqlDump to backup and restore a database or its parts .NET Framework features 100% managed code CLS-compliant .NET Framework 2.0+ support .NET Compact Framework support MoNo Framework support Advanced connection pooling Asynchronous execution support Paginal access to query result Ability to retrieve metadata information Ability of monitoring query and stored procedures execution Data source enumeration Database change notification support IDE, design time Advanced integration with Visual Studio 2008 - 2022 Help integrated into Visual Studio Advanced design-time editors Design-time wizards Other features Support for Data Access Application Block in Enterprise Library ASP.NET data providers: Membership, Role, Session State, Profile, Personalization, Site Map, Web Event Partial
Easy to deploy Free commercial usage *Free support for registered users during 1 year Detailed Information on Features
Of course, both data providers allow you to connect to the server and perform fundamental operations. So, common classes like MySqlConnection, MySqlCommand, MySqlDataReader or MySqlDataAdapter were not enumerated. The table shows that major advanced features are supported by the two data providers. dotConnect for MySQL provides extra components to manipulate data, scripts and packages. Additionally, dotConnect for MySQL has wider compatibility list.
- Direct mode to access database without MySQL client
In Direct mode dotConnect for MySQL talks to MySQL server in person, without calling any third party libraries. Connector/NET can do this too.
- Wide client and server versions support
dotConnect for MySQL supports MySQL server versions 5.4, 5.1, 5.0, 4.1, 4.0 and 3.23 including Embedded servers (starting with 4.1). dotConnect for MySQL also supports appropriate client versions. There is no client mode in Connector/NET.
- Secure connections support
dotConnect for MySQL allows you to use SSL and SSH protocols to connect to server. Connector/NET partially supports SSL.
- Proxy connections support
dotConnect for MySQL allows you to to use a proxy or bypass a firewall when connecting to server. Connector/NET requires direct access to server.
- Compression support
Both dotConnect for MySQL and Connector/NET are capable of compressing data that is transferred between client and server.
- Unicode connections support
Both dotConnect for MySQL and Connector/NET support Unicode text encoding, which enables developers to work with any language.
- All MySQL data types support
Both dotConnect for MySQL and Connector/NET data providers support all existing MySQL types. For types that do not map directly to .NET Framework types there are special classes and structures.
- All-in-one component to retrieve and manipulate data
The MySqlDataTable component in dotConnect for MySQL represents a single object that provides all of the functionality needed to retrieve and manipulate data from a MySQL server data source. It supports both connected and disconnected data access models. There is no counterpart in Connector/NET.
- MySqlScript component
This dotConnect for MySQL component serves to execute series of SQL statements, either one by one or all at once. Connector/NET have MySqlScript too.
- MySqlLoader component
This dotConnect for MySQL component serves to load external data into the MySQL database. The component provides highest possible performance. There is no counterpart in Connector/NET.
- MySqlDump component
This dotConnect for MySQL component serves to store a database or its parts as a script and also to restore database from the received script. There is no counterpart in Connector/NET.
The table above makes clear that Connector/NET has partial support for major .NET features. None of the unsupported by .NET features is vital to development process, but some would aid or speed it up greatly.
- 100% managed code
dotConnect for MySQL and Connector/NET are written on pure managed code. They do not depend on any unmanaged library. This allows functioning in a restrictive environment (like on web servers), gives automatic optimization for x64 architecture.
- CLS-compliant
Unlike dotConnect for MySQL, Connector/NET is not CLS-compliant.
- .NET Framework 2.0+ support
Both dotConnect for MySQL and Connector/NET allow creating applications for .NET Framework 2.0 and higher.
- .NET Compact Framework support
Both dotConnect for MySQL and Connector/NET allow creating applications for .NET Compact Framework.
- Mono Framework support
Both dotConnect for MySQL and Connector/NET allow creating applications for Mono framework.
- Advanced connection pooling
Both data providers utilize sophisticated mechanisms to optimize interaction with MySQL server. This balances network load and increases performance significantly.
- Asynchronous execution support
Both data providers support asynchronous execution of methods that take most of time in database applications, that is, opening a connection, transferring large blocks of data, and other operations alike.
- Paginal access to query result
dotConnect for MySQL allows you to request from server a subset of rows that a statement would return in normal way. This helps to save memory and improve performance by stripping off unnecessary data.
- Ability to retrieve metadata information
Both data providers support MySqlConnection.GetSchema() method, which is standard .NET way to obtain information on schema objects.
- Ability of monitoring query and stored procedures execution
dotConnect for MySQL provides MySqlMonitor component, which allows you to monitor dynamic SQL execution in applications that use dotConnect for MySQL. There is no analogue in Connector/NET.
- Data source enumeration
This feature enables the application to generically obtain a collection of the MySQL data sources that the application can connect to. The capability is supported by dotConnect for MySQL.
- Database change notification support
This feature enables applications to receive notifications when there is a change in a query result set, schema objects, or the state of the database. Using Database Change Notification, an application can easily maintain the validity of the client-side cache. The capability is supported by dotConnect for MySQL.
This part of the table demonstrates that Connector/NET has almost no design-time support. Connector/NET includes a plugin for Visual Studio 2008 - 2022, but it has restricted functionality.
- Advanced integration with Visual Studio 2008 - 2022
Both providers support new design-time features introduced in Visual Studio 2008 - 2022, known as Data Designer Extensibility. These features allow developer to preview data, customize DataSets, and perform many other operations.
- Help integrated into Visual Studio
dotConnect for MySQL integrates the documentation into Visual Studio Help Collection. Connector/NET help is available only as html pages on the web site.
- Advanced design-time editors
dotConnect for MySQL has components with greatly enhanced design-time tools that allow you to setup components in a true RAD manner. There is no counterpart in Connector/NET.
- Design-time wizards
dotConnect for MySQL has wizards that leverage client-side application development.
This section of the table contains other aspects of developing applications with MySQL: interaction with useful technologies and licensing issues.
- Support for Data Access Application Block in Enterprise Library
dotConnect for MySQL makes it easy to employ Microsoft Patterns and Practices in your application.
- ASP.NET data providers: Membership, Role, Session State, Profile, Personalization, Site Map, Web Event
dotConnect for MySQL can be used as data source in ASP.NET Provider Model, which allows you to develop DBMS-independent web applications. This feature is partially supported in Connector/NET.
- Easy to deploy
Applications built with dotConnect for MySQL in Direct mode do not require any other software installed on the computer, and can be installed on any available .NET Framework version.
- Free commercial usage
Connector/NET is licensed under GPL or commercial license. It is freely distributed and can be downloaded from www.mysql.com web site, but commercial usage of Connector/NET requires purchase of a commercial license. dotConnect for MySQL is a commercial product and requires one-time registration fee, but there is a free Express edition of dotConnect for MySQL, which can be used without restrictions.
- Free support for registered users during 1 year
dotConnect for MySQL provides free reliable online support (using web forum or e-mail) for registered users.
See Also