2 Our first web API project

In this chapter, we’ll create the MyBGList web API, the cornerstone of the service-oriented architecture concrete scenario that we introduced in chapter 1. More specifically, we’ll put on the shoes of the software development team in charge of creating and setting up the project. We’ll have to make some high-level decisions, such as choosing the integrated development environment (IDE) to adopt and then switch to a more practical approach, such as getting our hands on the source code for the first time, as well as debugging and testing it to ensure that it works as expected.

By the end of the chapter, you’ll be able to test your knowledge by solving some wrap-up exercises on the topics and concepts covered. The main goal is to create a working ASP.NET web API project, which you’ll expand and improve in the following chapters.

2.1 System requirements

Because we’ve already chosen to develop our web API with ASP.NET Core, it could be useful to recap the system requirements—what we need to install to start our development journey.

2.1.1 .NET SDK

2.1.2 Integrated development environment

2.2 Installing Visual Studio

2.3 Creating the web API project

2.4 MyBGList project overview

2.4.1 Reviewing launchSettings.json

2.4.2 Configuring the appsettings.json

2.4.3 Playing with the Program.cs file

2.4.4 Inspecting the WeatherForecastController

2.4.5 Adding the BoardGameController

2.5 Exercises

2.5.1 launchSettings.json