Cure Data Type "Impedance Mismatch" With LINQ

This article from Fawcette Technical Publications' .NETInsight newsletter describes how to install and test the C# 2.0 and VB 8.0 implementations of the LINQ Project, DLink and XLink. Although this post from the VBTeam's blog states that the initial PDC 2005 Technology Preview (TP) bits work with the current VS 2005 release candidate, which is available for download from MSDN, I've found the following issues on various VS 2005 versions:

• Neither the VB or C# preview run correctly on the Beta 2 version (build 8.0.50215.44) mentioned as required in the Readme document for the C# version. This build is running here under Windows 2003 Server SP-1.
• The SQLMetal.exe command-line utility to generate C# entity classes for SQL Server databases and DLinq throws an unhandled exception—Invalid object name 'Dbo.customers'—when run under Beta 2 (build 8.0.50215.44).
• The C# preview doesn't add LINQ templates or integrate correctly under the VS 2005 RC IDE after running Install Visual Studio IDE Support.cmd. Attempts to edit any C# LINQ source code result in an instantaneous VS 2005 shutdown and restart. This build is also running here under Windows 2003 Server SP-1.
• The only VS build that appears to me to work correctly with the Technology Preview is Beta 2 build 8.0.50727.7 (a.k.a., the July CTP), which I'm running under Windows XP SP-2.
• The C# SampleQueries project throws 60 compilation errors, regardless of the VS 2005 build under which it runs.

I've also determined that DLinq support for VB projects in the initial Technology Preview is non-existent; installing the VB TP bits doesn't install DLinq.dll to provide the System.Data.DLinq classes. My article quotes the VBTeam's Amanda Silver: "For example, we've been working on XML integration pretty fiercely, meanwhile, we're [sic] don't have support in this initial version for DLinq." You can, however, emulate some VB DLinq features by executing simple LINQ Select ... From ... In ... Where ... Order By queries against in-memory instances of hand-coded entity classes that you populate with the ADO.NET 2.0 SqlDataReader.GetObject(objRow) method. --rj Technorati: LINQ Update: Here's a lightly edited question and answer regarding future C# 3.0 LINQ compatibility with the VS 2005 RC and RTM versions from the September 22, 2005 C# 3.0 chat: Q: May we expect a release of LINQ that works with the RC and/or RTM of .NET 2.0 in the near term? A: Yes. We are very actively working on it right now and would like to get it out as soon as we can.