What is the best way to support multiple databases for a .NET product?

Question

We are designing a product which could support multiple databases. We are doing something like this currently so that our code supports MS SQL as well as MySQL:

namespace Handlers
{
    public class BaseHandler
    {
        protected string connectionString;
        protected string providerName;

        protected BaseHandler()
        {
            connectionString = ApplicationConstants.DatabaseVariables.GetConnectionString();
            providerName = ApplicationConstants.DatabaseVariables.GetProviderName();
        }
    }
}

namespace Constants
{
    internal class ApplicationConstants
    {
        public class DatabaseVariables
        {
            public static readonly string SqlServerProvider = "System.Data.SqlClient";
            public static readonly string MySqlProvider = "MySql.Data.MySqlClient";

            public static string GetConnectionString()
            {
                return ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["CONNECTION_STRING"].ConnectionString; 
            }

            public static string GetProviderName()
            {
                return ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["CONNECTION_STRING"].ProviderName;
            }
        }
    }
}

namespace Handlers
{
    internal class InfoHandler : BaseHandler
    {
        public InfoHandler() : base()
        {
        }

        public void Insert(InfoModel infoModel)
        {
            CommonUtilities commonUtilities = new CommonUtilities();
            string cmdInsert = InfoQueryHelper.InsertQuery(providerName);
            DbCommand cmd = null;
            try
            {
                DbProviderFactory provider = DbProviderFactories.GetFactory(providerName);
                DbConnection con = LicDbConnectionScope.Current.GetOpenConnection(provider, connectionString);
                cmd = commonUtilities.GetCommand(provider, con, cmdInsert);
                commonUtilities.PrepareCommand(cmd, infoModel.AccessKey, "paramAccessKey", DbType.String, false, provider, providerName);
                commonUtilities.PrepareCommand(cmd, infoModel.AccessValue, "paramAccessValue", DbType.String, false, provider, providerName);
                cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
            }
            catch (SqlException dbException)
            {
                //-2146232060 for MS SQL Server
                //-2147467259 for MY SQL Server
                /*Check if Sql server instance is running or not*/
                if (dbException.ErrorCode == -2146232060 || dbException.ErrorCode == -2147467259)
                {
                    throw new BusinessException("ER0008");
                }
                else
                {
                    throw new BusinessException("GENERIC_EXCEPTION_ERROR");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception generalException)
            {
                throw generalException;
            }
            finally
            {
                cmd.Dispose();
            }
        }
    }
}

namespace QueryHelpers
{
    internal class InfoQueryHelper
    {
        public static string InsertQuery(string providerName)
        {
            if (providerName == ApplicationConstants.DatabaseVariables.SqlServerProvider)
            {
                return @"INSERT INTO table1
           (ACCESS_KEY
           ,ACCESS_VALUE)
     VALUES
           (@paramAccessKey
           ,@paramAccessValue) ";
            }
            else if (providerName == ApplicationConstants.DatabaseVariables.MySqlProvider)
            {
                return @"INSERT INTO table1
           (ACCESS_KEY
           ,ACCESS_VALUE)
     VALUES
           (?paramAccessKey
           ,?paramAccessValue) ";
            }
            else
            {
                return string.Empty;
            }
        }
    }
}

Can you please suggest if there is any better way of doing it? Also what are the pros and cons of the approach?

Answer 1

For your current need, I agree with NHibernate...

Just want to point out something with your class hierarchy...

You will better to use Interface

Like (Just check the doc or Internet for exact syntax)

Interface IDBParser  
    Function1  
    Function2  

class MSSQLParser : IDBParser  
    Function1  
    Function2  

class MySQLParser : IDBParser  
    Function1  
    Function2 

Then in your code you can use the interface

Main()  
    IDBParser dbParser;  
    if(...)  
       dbParser = new MSSQLParser();  
    else  
       dbParser = new MySQLParser();  

    SomeFunction( dbParser );  

// the parser can be sent by parameter, global setting, central module, ...  
    SomeFunction( IDBParser dbParser)  
      dbParser.Function1();  

That way it will be easier to manage and your code won't be full of the same if/else condition. It will be also a lot easier to add others DB. Another advantage is that it could help you with unit testing by sending mock object.