It’s an ASP.NET 2.0 tool for generating and manipulating websites directly from database schema. You’ll find it in the asp.net sandbox here.

As you’ll have guessed from the name, rather than using SQL Server queries BLINQ relies on the forthcoming LINQ (Language Integrated Query) technology that’s being released as part of the .NET 3.0 Framework alongside Visual Studio ‘Orcas’ this coming summer/fall. I’ve been playing with it a little over the last few days and I must say that it’s rather good. If you’re developing web applications and have an instance of Visual Studio 2005 installed (Express will do), I suggest you give it a try. As the sandbox page says, you’ll need the May CTP of LINQ.

Since it has its foundations in an alpha technology it’s not completely stable, although the forums do go some way to helping you get over some of the more obvious glitches. It’s certainly something to keep an eye on for the future.

The only question that remains? What does BLINQ actually stand for? dataBinding LINQ is the closest we’ve come so far. When I find out, I’ll let you know.