ASP.NET Core with React

Yes, absolutely! Building an ASP.NET Core API with a React frontend app is entirely possible using Visual Studio Code (VS Code) without Visual Studio. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:

Prerequisites:

• Node.js and npm: Download and install Node.js, which includes npm (Node Package Manager).
• .NET SDK: Download and install the .NET SDK version compatible with your chosen ASP.NET Core version.
• VS Code: Download and install VS Code.

Creating the ASP.NET Core API:

1. Open VS Code and use the terminal to create a new ASP.NET Core API project:

dotnet new webapi

1. Choose a template: Opt for “Empty” or another minimal template, as React will handle the frontend.
2. Install dependencies: Use npm install to install necessary packages for the API, like Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc and others depending on your project requirements.
3. Develop your API: Implement your API endpoints and logic using C# within the project structure.

Creating the React App:

1. Open a new terminal in VS Code.
2. Navigate to the directory where you want to create the React app:

cd ..

1. Use create-react-app to create a new React app:

npx create-react-app my-react-app

1. Navigate to the created React app directory:

cd my-react-app

1. Start the React development server:

npm start

1. Develop your React frontend: Build the UI and connect to your API endpoints using tools like fetch or HTTP libraries like Axios.
2. Configure proxy (optional): If your API server runs on a different port than the React app, set up a proxy in package.json to avoid cross-origin issues during development.

Running the application:

1. Start the API server: Run dotnet run in the ASP.NET Core project directory.
2. Keep the React development server running: It should be running from the previous step.
3. Access your application: The app will be available in your browser, typically at http://localhost:3000 for the React app and a different port for the API depending on your setup.

Additional Tips:

• Use extensions like “C# for Visual Studio Code” and “React” for syntax highlighting and code completion.
• Consider version control (Git) for managing your codebase.
• Explore frameworks like ASP.NET Core Identity for user authentication and authorization.
• Utilize tools like Docker or Azure App Service for deployment and production environments.

Remember, this is a brief overview. You’ll find numerous tutorials and resources online covering each step in detail, offering additional guidance and best practices.

I hope this helps you build your desired application using VS Code!