Need a recommended book to do my first ASP.NET WEB API

Hi there,

Are you sure you would like to stick to VS2010 and VB.Net? VS2020 is around the corner and if you try to obtain VB.Net examples - there are going to be challenges. If you are open to move to C# and VS2019 (till 2020 comes out) and can go for .Net Core - there are plenty of resources for you to use.

Regards,
Chinmay.

OK Chinmay,
I am now installing VS2019 but can I stick to VB.net. Thanks

C# is more popular and you'll find more example code but you can still stick to vb.net if you like

You can try this webapi tutorial

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/tutorials/first-web-api?view=aspnetcore-3.1&tabs=visual-studio

You can stick to VB.Net but overall treatment of VB.Net is degrading - it was not even considered for the Project Templates initially. Thankfully, you have the templates now and you can use them in VS2019, just select language Visual Basic and you will see the Web Application template there. Let me know if you run into any issues.

Partha and Chinmay
 I Installed VS2019 and went through the tutorial you provided, and started to understand the concept. I still need resources (or even books) for the following:
1- Saving to the MSSQL database
2- Securing the API (most important)
3- Does the API only perform CRUD or can be used to do other staff like running Stored procedure, using database functions, running database Views, running SQL server objects (e.g. SSIS packages or SQL agent jobs)...etc
4- what about multi tables updates, and multi-records updates in one process...

Are my questions relevant for the WEB API... again it is my first exposure to the whole concept, and I believe that a good comprehensive book would be useful. Any recommendations for my concerns. Thanks

Chinmay,
I really appreciate your help, and I will start reading the E-book in the link you provided https://aka.ms/webappebook
I do not know what will this book produce of questions later on... but it looks encouraging

Before I close this question, few clarifications need your generous answers:

1- If I go this path will I ever use SQL statements in the code or all is encapsulated in Entity Framework? (Sorry I am not familiar with EF yet)
2- What about objects that do not correspond to an entity (OR Table) like processes and operations and actions not a part of CRUD. Will I be able to perform them OR I have to artificially create entities for them which still handles "CRUD"? again, (Sorry I am not familiar with EF yet)
3- I do develop Rich client applications, web applications currently, and for enterprise work I can use WCF and web services... what should urge me to move to the direction of Web API?

I appreciate your cooperation, and sorry for the Novice level questions :)

Regards,
Fayez

Thanks Chinmay... It i a good book. I appreciate all your help. Regards

Thanks for your kind comments. :) BTW, I am not sure how I missed your follow up question. Here are my answers:

1- If I go this path will I ever use SQL statements in the code or all is encapsulated in Entity Framework? (Sorry I am not familiar with EF yet) - Most of the SQL is encapsulated, but you can still run good ol' SQL queries.
2- What about objects that do not correspond to an entity (OR Table) like processes and operations and actions not a part of CRUD. Will I be able to perform them OR I have to artificially create entities for them which still handles "CRUD"? again, (Sorry I am not familiar with EF yet) - Not at all. You can design processes as if you were doing in any of other programming languages.
3- I do develop Rich client applications, web applications currently, and for enterprise work I can use WCF and web services... what should urge me to move to the direction of Web API? - Once upon a time I swore by WCF for everything (and prior to that Web Services). I prefer Web API more now 'cause

1. It allows to do me more with less (Code/Config - everything, If you have used WCF Extensively, you will know)

2. It is simpler than WCF (or is it just me?)

3. It is easy to deploy (Right?)

4. And I am kind of in favor of picking up new tech (if I find them reliable - I never picked up Silverlight)

PS: I don't think these question are novice levels (I think you know what you want to do) - most of the novices don't know that. And even if they were I am always happy to help when someone is trying to learn.

All the best. 

Regards,

Chinmay.