Getting Started with .NET

Starting with .NET is straightforward, whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer. This section will guide you through setting up your development environment, creating your first .NET application, and understanding the basics of .NET development.

ASP.NET Core Web API is a powerful framework for building HTTP-based services, enabling seamless integration and communication between client applications and the server. This tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of ASP.NET Core Web API, including key concepts, architecture, and practical examples to get you started. The concepts and techniques discussed apply to various .NET versions, including .NET 5, .NET 6, .NET 7, and .NET 8 (latest LTS version).

What is a Web API?

A Web API (Application Programming Interface) allows communication between different software applications over the web. It is a set of protocols and tools for building and interacting with software applications, enabling various systems to interact with each other regardless of the platform or language they are built on.

Prerequisites

Setting Up the Environment

Follow these steps to set up your development environment for .NET:

Creating Your First .NET Application

Let's create a simple .NET application to get started. You can use either the command line or an IDE like Visual Studio.


Using the Command Line:

Open a terminal or command prompt and run the following commands to create a new console application: 

dotnet new webapi -o MyFirstWebAPI
cd MyFirstWebAPI
dotnet run

These commands will create a new console application in a directory named "MyFirstWebAPI" and run it.


Using Visual Studio:

1.1 Create a new project create new project in visual studio

Locate and click on the “Create a new project” button. This is where you begin the process of setting up a new project. The button is prominently displayed as one of the options on the right side of the screen.

1.2 Selecting a Project Template select project template

Use the search bar at the top to type Console or select "Console App (.NET Core)" from the dropdown filter to narrow down to relevant templates. This helps in quickly locating the right type of project template.

1.3 Configuring Your New Project configure new project

  • Project Name: Enter a name for your project. This name identifies your project within Visual Studio and the filesystem.
  • Location: Choose the directory where your project files will be stored. This defines the root directory for your project on your computer.
  • Solution Name: Usually matches the project name but can be changed if your project is part of a larger solution.
  • Directory Structure: You have the option to place the solution and project in the same directory. This can simplify the management of smaller projects.
  • Confirmation: Confirm the path where the project will be created to ensure it is correct. Moving projects later can lead to complications.
  • Next Steps: Once all fields are correctly filled, click the "Next" button to proceed to additional project settings.

1.4 Configuring Additional Settings for Your ASP.NET Core Web API asp net core api new project

  • Framework: Choose the .NET framework version for your project. Opt for ".NET 8.0 (Long Term Support)" for projects requiring long-term stability.
  • Authentication Type: Select the appropriate authentication method for your API, with options ranging from None to more complex identity solutions.
  • Configure for HTTPS: Ensure your API is secure by enabling HTTPS, which encrypts data sent to and from your API.
  • Enable Docker: If planning to deploy using containers, enable Docker and choose the operating system like Linux or Windows for container deployment.
  • Enable OpenAPI Support: Activate OpenAPI support for automatic documentation and client SDK generation, enhancing API accessibility and testing.
  • Do not use top-level statements: Opt to include or exclude top-level statements based on your coding style preference. This affects the structure of your program files.
  • Use controllers: Decide whether to structure your API using controllers. If unchecked, your project will default to using minimal APIs.

Understanding Project Files

When you create a new .NET project, several files and folders are generated. Here's an overview of the most important ones:

Building and Running the Application

Once your project is set up, you can build and run it to see it in action.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you'll have your .NET development environment set up and your first application running. This foundation will prepare you for more advanced topics and development in .NET.