Create WEBAPI Using Console Application and Host as Self-Hosting

We have seen earlier creating WEBAPI selecting WEBAPI project type, also we can create the WEBAPI using Console application.

Soon after listening the word console application we will get a doubt that how the URL of the service is exposed with a generated Executable file (.EXE).

Here we are going to host the application as a Self-Hosting

1.   Create new project

2.   Under Visual C# select Console application as a project type.

3.   Click on Tools ->   NuGet Package Manager - > Package Manager Console.

Install OwinselfHost package for self hosting (internet connection mandatory)

   PM> Install-Package Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.OwinSelfHost

4.   If the API is also used to consume as a cross origin, we should install CORS packages (internet connection mandatory)

   PM> Install-Package Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Cors

5.   Add new class to the project and name it to Startup.cs [Name should be same for self-Hosting]

Place the below code in Startup.cs

              using System;

using Owin;

using System.Web.Http;

using System.Net.Http;

namespace firstMicroService

{

    public class Startup

    {

        public void Configuration(IAppBuilder appBuilder)

        {

            HttpConfiguration CONFIG = new HttpConfiguration();

            CONFIG.EnableCors();

            CONFIG.Routes.MapHttpRoute(

                name: "createUserApi",

                routeTemplate: "api/{controller}/{id}",

                defaults: new { id = RouteParameter.Optional }

                );

            appBuilder.UseWebApi(CONFIG);

        }

    }

}

6.   Create new class with [EmployeeController.cs] which inherits from ApiController

Place the code as shown below.

using System;

using System.Collections.Generic;

using System.Linq;

using System.Collections;

using System.Threading.Tasks;

using System.Web.Http;

using System.Web.Http.Cors;

namespace firstMicroService

{

    public class Employee

    {

        public int Id { get; set; }

        public string Name { get; set; }

        public string Salary { get; set; }

    }

    [EnableCors(origins:"*", headers:"*", methods:"*")]

    public class EmployeeController : ApiController

    {

        Employee[] employees = new Employee[]

        {

            new Employee{Id=0,Name="Morris",Salary="151110"},

            new Employee{Id=1,Name="John", Salary="120000"},

            new Employee{Id=2,Name="Chris",Salary="140000"},

            new Employee{Id=3,Name="Siraj", Salary="90000"}

        };

        public IEnumerable<Employee> Get()

        {

            return employees.ToList();

        }

        public Employee Get(int Id)

        {

            try

            {

                return employees[Id];

            }

            catch (Exception)

            {

                return new Employee();

            }

        }

    }

}

7.   Open Program.cs file and replace with below code.

using Microsoft.Owin.Hosting;

using System;

namespace firstMicroService

{

    class Program

    {

        static void Main(string[] args)

        {

            string domainAddress = "Http://20.201.36.49/";

            using (WebApp.Start(url: domainAddress))

            {

                Console.WriteLine("Service Hosted " + domainAddress);

                System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(-1);

            }

        }

    }

}

9.   Run the application and keep the console open.

                  

10.   Service is written only for GET method, to test the service,

{given Domain address}/{api}/{Given controllername}/{optional id}

In my case am testing the service with POSTMAN REST Client,

http://20.201.36.49/api/Employee/1

Testing Service.