Hosting a real WEB API project instead of a simple class

Question

I have read several articles about how does TopShelf works. All of them are saying:

• Create a Console application

• Add the Topshelf NuGet package

• Create a simple testController : ApiController to represent the service logic (I want to have my existing WEB API project to be hosting instead of this testController)

• ...

But now I want to have my existing WEB API project to be hosting instead of this testController. How should I replace my project with this testController in this TopShelf console application?

Obviously I can't configure my WEB API project itself with TopShelf instead of using a Console Application because the WEB API has not an exe file like console app.

I just want to know how should I replace this test controller inside console app with my real API project?

Answer 1

1. Add a new console application to your solution

2. Install NuGet Package Microsoft.Owin.SelfHost, Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.OwinSelfHost and Topshelf to the your new project

3. Add a Startup.cs (see here)

4. Add TopshelfService.cs

   public class TopshelfService
   {
       private IDisposable moDisposable = null;
   
       public void Start()
       {
           this.moDisposable = WebApp.Start<Startup>("http://localhost:9989");
       }
   
       public void Stop()
       {
           this.moDisposable?.Dispose();
       }
   }
   

5. Add code from Topshelf Section to your Main methode

6. Add a reference to your existing WebApi Project

7. Create a dummy instance from you controller in your Startup class. (This is necessary to load you WebApi Project before start Owin)

   public void Configuration(IAppBuilder app)
   {
       DemoController dummy = new DemoController();
   
       // Configure Web API for self-host. 
       var config = new HttpConfiguration();
       config.Routes.MapHttpRoute(
           name: "DefaultApi",
           routeTemplate: "api/{controller}/{id}",
           defaults: new { id = RouteParameter.Optional }
       );
   
       app.UseWebApi(config);
   }
   

8. Compile and run

9. Install the service with "Project.exe" install

10. Now you have a windows service "Self Host Web API Demo'