Launch ASP.NET Core API from windows service - asp.net

Question

I have a small API created from a ASP.NET core Api template in visual studio 22 that targets .NET6.
For testing\debuging I'm launching the API using console application and everything works.
But for production I need this API to be started from a windows service and I have no idea how to make it.
I could simply put the .exe in same folder as the service and call it, but far as I now if no user logged in the console app won't start.
So the idea is to pack the API together with all services and start it when windows service starts.
I've made a small test by creating a static class name "Test.cs" with a method named "Start" and copy all the code from "Program.cs" and call the "Start" method from a test application.
The API starts and stays listening to the endpoints but for some reason doesn't map the controllers from project controllers folder.
all OK when starting API from default
controllers not mapped when start API from static method
program.cs
var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
// Add services to the container.
builder.Services.AddControllers();
// Learn more about configuring Swagger/OpenAPI at https://aka.ms/aspnetcore/swashbuckle
builder.Services.AddEndpointsApiExplorer();
builder.Services.AddSwaggerGen();
//to avoid json serialize camel casing
builder.Services.AddControllers().AddJsonOptions(opts =>
{
opts.JsonSerializerOptions.PropertyNamingPolicy = null;
opts.JsonSerializerOptions.NumberHandling = System.Text.Json.Serialization.JsonNumberHandling.AllowNamedFloatingPointLiterals; //para aceitar NAN, infinitos etc no json
});
//////////
//Nedeed
builder.Services.AddCors(options =>
{
options.AddPolicy("CorsPolicy", builder => builder.AllowAnyOrigin().AllowAnyMethod().AllowAnyHeader());
});
var app = builder.Build();
// Configure the HTTP request pipeline.
if (app.Environment.IsDevelopment())
{
app.UseSwagger();
app.UseSwaggerUI();
}
app.UseHttpsRedirection();
app.UseCors("CorsPolicy");
//app.UseAuthorization();
app.MapControllers();
app.Run();
test.cs
namespace ProjectX.Api
{
public static class Test
{
public static void Start()
{
var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder();
// Add services to the container.
builder.Services.AddControllers();
// Learn more about configuring Swagger/OpenAPI at https://aka.ms/aspnetcore/swashbuckle
builder.Services.AddEndpointsApiExplorer();
builder.Services.AddSwaggerGen();
//to avoid json serialize camel casing
builder.Services.AddControllers().AddJsonOptions(opts =>
{
opts.JsonSerializerOptions.PropertyNamingPolicy = null;
opts.JsonSerializerOptions.NumberHandling = System.Text.Json.Serialization.JsonNumberHandling.AllowNamedFloatingPointLiterals; //para aceitar NAN, infinitos etc no json
});
//////////
//Nedeed
builder.Services.AddCors(options =>
{
options.AddPolicy("CorsPolicy", builder => builder.AllowAnyOrigin().AllowAnyMethod().AllowAnyHeader());
});
var app = builder.Build();
app.UseSwagger();
app.UseSwaggerUI();
app.UseHttpsRedirection();
app.UseCors("CorsPolicy");
//app.UseAuthorization();
app.MapControllers();
app.Run();
}
}
}
tester app
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;
namespace ProjectX.Tester
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
try
{
ProjectX.Api.Test.Start();
}
catch (Exception ex )
{
}
}
}
}

Answer 1

You can run the exe file of Web Api directly in Start():
public static void Start()
{
ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo();
startInfo.CreateNoWindow = false;
startInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
startInfo.FileName = "Your Path\\ProjectName.exe";
startInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal;
startInfo.Arguments = "";
try
{
using (Process exeProcess = Process.Start(startInfo))
{
exeProcess.WaitForExit();
}
}
catch
{
//Log error.
}
}
Then you can successfully call the API in the project:
If you want to apply Swagger, please add the following code in the production environment in Program.cs:
app.UseSwagger();
app.UseSwaggerUI();
Result:
Hope this can help you.