When working with ORM, which database development method do you prefer: creating code first or designing the database before coding?

The choice between creating code first or designing the database depends on the specific project and requirements.

If the project is well-defined and data structure is important, it is better to design the database first — this helps avoid issues with performance and data integrity.

If the project is flexible and changes rapidly, you can start with code (Code First), then generate the database from models. This approach is convenient during active development and frequent changes.

In C# with ORM, such as Entity Framework, the Code First approach is often used for convenience and speed of development, but for complex systems with large data volumes, Database First or Model First is preferable.