Building NET Applications with Minimal APIs and Vertical Slice Architecture

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Minimal APIs in .NET provide a streamlined approach to building web applications by reducing boilerplate code and focusing on simplicity. They align well with Vertical Slice Architecture (VSA), where each feature or use case is implemented as an independent component. This approach enhances maintainability and scalability.

Key Features of Minimal APIs:

  • Lightweight: No unnecessary boilerplate.
  • Modular: Each endpoint acts as a standalone component.
  • Performance: Faster request processing compared to traditional controllers.

Example: FastEndpoints Implementation

FastEndpoints enhances Minimal APIs by providing a REPR (Request-Endpoint-Response) pattern. Below is a practical example:

using FastEndpoints;

public class CreateUserEndpoint : Endpoint<CreateUserRequest, CreateUserResponse>
{
public override void Configure()
{
Post("/api/users");
AllowAnonymous();
}

public override async Task HandleAsync(CreateUserRequest req, CancellationToken ct)
{
var user = new User { Name = req.Name, Email = req.Email };
await userRepository.AddAsync(user, ct);
await SendAsync(new CreateUserResponse { UserId = user.Id });
}
}

You Should Know:

Essential Commands for .NET Development

1. Create a Minimal API Project:

dotnet new web -n MyMinimalApi

2. Add FastEndpoints Package:

dotnet add package FastEndpoints

3. Run the Application:

dotnet run

4. Linux Debugging (For Hosting .NET Apps):

journalctl -u kestrel-myapp.service --no-pager -n 50

5. Windows Service Management (For IIS Hosting):

Get-Service -Name "W3SVC" | Restart-Service

6. Dockerize the App:

FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/sdk:7.0 AS build
WORKDIR /src
COPY . .
RUN dotnet publish -c Release -o /app
FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/aspnet:7.0
WORKDIR /app
COPY --from=build /app .
ENTRYPOINT ["dotnet", "MyMinimalApi.dll"]

What Undercode Say:

Minimal APIs and Vertical Slice Architecture redefine .NET development by promoting modularity and reducing complexity. FastEndpoints further optimizes this with REPR, making it ideal for microservices and cloud-native apps. For enterprise-grade applications, ensure proper middleware integration (e.g., UseHttpsRedirection, UseAuthorization).

Expected Output:

A scalable .NET application with:

  • Endpoints: Organized by features (e.g., /api/users, /api/products).
  • Performance: Reduced overhead via minimal middleware.
  • DevOps Readiness: Docker/Kubernetes compatibility.

Reference: Structuring Vertical Slices with Minimal APIs

References:

Reported By: Milan Jovanovic – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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