The purpose of most of the real-world applications is to process data that are available in external data sources such as databases and XML files or obtained using a web service or REST API. Accessing such data sources in a typed way is difficult, because the compiler does not understand the structure of the data. In this talk, we look how to use F# 3.0 Type Providers to teach an old compiler new tricks. With type providers, the compiler can understand structure of databases, XML files and web services. This makes it possible to access data from any external data source in a type-safe way with a smooth IDE experience. In this talk, we'll look how to use the standard type providers and we'll also look at implementing a type provider for a custom data source. 

The purpose of most of the real-world applications is to process data that are available in external data sources such as databases and XML files or obtained using a web service or REST API. Accessing such data sources in a typed way is difficult, because the compiler does not understand the structure of the data. In this talk, we look how to use F# 3.0 Type Providers to teach an old compiler new tricks. With type providers, the compiler can understand structure of databases, XML files and web services. This makes it possible to access data from any external data source in a type-safe way with a smooth IDE experience. In this talk, we'll look how to use the standard type providers and we'll also look at implementing a type provider for a custom data source.