ASP.NET Core Self-Hosting with .NET 4.6 Apps

Demonstrates how to self-host an ASP.NET Core app using .NET 4.6 apps.

Self-Hosted MVC Core with Windows Forms 4.6

1. Add a new Windows Forms project.

• Set framework to .NET 4.6

2. Edit the .csproj file in a text editor

• Using the Productivity Power Tools extension makes this easier

• Add the following to the first <PropertyGroup>

• This is necessary for NuGet to bring in libuv.dll

  <BaseNuGetRuntimeIdentifier>win7-x86</BaseNuGetRuntimeIdentifier>

3. Add project.json file.

   {
     "dependencies": {
       "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Core": "1.0.0-*",
       "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Formatters.Json": "1.0.0-*",
       "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Server.Kestrel": "1.0.0-*",
       "Microsoft.NETCore.Platforms": "1.0.1-*"
     },
     "runtimes": {
       "win7-x86": {}
     },
     "frameworks": {
       "net46": {}
     }
   }

4. Add a RunWebHost method to Program.cs.

   private static void RunWebHost()
   {
       var host = new WebHostBuilder()
           .UseKestrel()
           .UseStartup<Startup>()
           .Build();
       host.Run();
   }

• Call the method asynchronously from Main.

  Task.Run(() => RunWebHost());

5. Add a Startup class.

• Configure Mvc core with Json formatters.

  public class Startup
  {
      public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
      {
          services.AddMvcCore()
                  .AddJsonFormatters();
      }
  
      public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app)
      {
          app.UseMvc();
      }
  }

6. Add a TextBox to the main form

• Name it: nameTextBox

• Add a NameText property

• Use SynchronizationContext for the setter

  public partial class MainForm : Form
  {
      private SynchronizationContext _syncRoot;
  
      public MainForm()
      {
          InitializeComponent();
          _syncRoot = SynchronizationContext.Current;
      }
  
      public string NameText
      {
          get { return nameTextBox.Text; }
          set { _syncRoot.Post(SetName, value); }
      }
  
      private void SetName(object arg)
      {
          string name = arg as string;
          if (name != null)
              nameTextBox.Text = name;
      }
  }
  

7. Add a GreetingController with Get and Post methods.

• Get and set the NameText property on the main form

  [Route("/hello")]
  public class GreetingController
  {
      [HttpGet]
      public IActionResult Get()
      {
          var name = Program.Form.NameText;
          var greeting = "Hello " + name;
          return new JsonResult(greeting);
      }
  
      [HttpPost]
      public IActionResult Post([FromBody] string name)
      {
          Program.Form.NameText = name;
          return new NoContentResult();
      }
  }

8. Use an http client such as Fiddler or Postman to send requests

• Uri: http://localhost:5000/hello/
• Add Accept and Content-Type headers: application/json

9. Use the ConsoleClient to send requests

• Add the NuGet package: Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Client
• First run the WinForms project, then the console client