Scaling EF Core for Data Imports: From CSV Files to Millions of Database Rows

This article provides a comprehensive guide on scaling Entity Framework Core for high-volume data imports, specifically handling CSV files with millions of database rows. It covers parsing CSV files correctly using CsvHelper and dedicated DTOs, avoiding common pitfalls like direct entity mapping. The scenario involves a nightly supplier product catalog import of 500,000 rows that must complete in under five minutes. Key topics include efficient parsing, handling updates and duplicates, and achieving production-level performance with concrete benchmark numbers. Aimed at .NET developers working with EF Core and large datasets.