What's the difference between persistent objects and linq-to-sql?

Question

My manager as work keeps talking about persistent objects. I'm more familiar with linq-to-sql. What is the differences between them and what is an example of persistent objects?

Answer 1

I frequently use DevExpress XPO persistent objects. The biggest difference for me is that I don't have to have an existing database, or even know what the target database platform will be, while I'm creating my classes.

DevExpress has a lot of details on their site. Look for XPO (eXpress Persistent Objects).

Answer 2

From what I can tell, your boss is referring to persistent objects as being POCO style classes (abstracting the database functionality from your entities). In the strictest definition I would say that LINQ to SQL objects are persistent objects, but they are not POCO classes. You can't take those classes and switch to a different back end platform with them.