.NET Core Web API For Beginners: Practical Guide

Introduction

Welcome to the first lesson of our practical .NET Core Web API course! Today, we’ll explore the foundations of .NET Core, discuss its advantages, and walk through the installation process. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a solid understanding of what .NET Core is and be ready to create your first application. Let’s dive in!

What is .NET Core?

Understanding .NET Core

.NET Core is a free, open-source, cross-platform framework developed by Microsoft. It allows developers to build modern, high-performance applications for various platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. With .NET Core, you can create a wide range of applications, such as web, mobile, desktop, cloud, and IoT solutions.

Key Features of .NET Core

1. Cross-Platform: Run your applications on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
2. High Performance: Optimized for performance and scalability.
3. Modular and Lightweight: Choose only the libraries you need.
4. Unified Platform: Use the same codebase across different types of applications.
5. Open Source: Contribute to and benefit from the community.

.NET Core vs .NET Framework

You might be wondering how .NET Core differs from the traditional .NET Framework. Here are some key differences:

• Cross-Platform: Unlike the .NET Framework, which is Windows-only, .NET Core supports multiple operating systems.
• Modularity: .NET Core is modular, allowing you to include only the libraries you need, resulting in smaller application sizes.
• Command-Line Tools: .NET Core includes robust CLI tools for development and deployment.
• Unified Development: With .NET Core, you can use a single codebase for different application types.

Installing .NET Core SDK and Runtime

To get started with .NET Core, you need to install the .NET Core SDK and runtime on your machine. Follow these steps to set up your environment:

Step 1: Download .NET Core SDK

1. Visit the Official .NET Website: Go to the official .NET download page.
2. Choose Your Operating System: Select your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
3. Download the SDK Installer: Click on the appropriate link to download the installer.

Step 2: Install .NET Core SDK

1. Run the Installer: Open the downloaded installer file.
2. Follow the Installation Wizard: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
3. Verify Installation: Open a terminal or command prompt and run the following command to verify the installation:

dotnet --version

You should see the installed version of .NET Core SDK.

Creating Your First .NET Core Application

Now that you have .NET Core installed, let’s create your first application. We’ll create a simple console application to demonstrate how easy it is to get started with .NET Core.

Step 1: Create a New Project

1. Open Terminal or Command Prompt: Navigate to the directory where you want to create your project.
2. Run the dotnet new Command: Create a new console application by running:

dotnet new console -n MyFirstApp 

This command creates a new directory named MyFirstApp with the necessary files.

Step 2: Run Your Application

1. Navigate to the Project Directory:

cd MyFirstApp

2. Build and Run the Application:

dotnet run 

You should see the output “Hello World!” in the terminal.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully created and run your first .NET Core application. This simple exercise demonstrates the power and ease of use of .NET Core.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we’ve covered the basics of .NET Core, its advantages, and how to set up your development environment. By now, you should have a solid understanding of what .NET Core is and how to create a simple application. In the next lesson, we’ll dive into creating a .NET Core Web API project and explore its structure. Stay tuned and happy coding!