Mastering .NET 7/8: Performance, Minimal APIs, and Modern Development Practices

 .NET has been at the forefront of application development for decades. With the release of .NET 7 and the upcoming .NET 8, developers are empowered with tools and features to build modern, high-performance, and scalable applications across multiple platforms. In this blog, we’ll explore the major advancements in .NET 7/8, focusing on performance improvements, Minimal APIs, and modern development practices that are essential for every .NET developer in 2024 and beyond.

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1. Introduction to .NET 7/8

The evolution of the Unified .NET platform continues to break barriers, combining web, cloud, mobile, desktop, gaming, and IoT development into one ecosystem. Both .NET 7 and .NET 8 emphasize:

• High performance: Optimized runtime and tools for faster applications.
• Ease of development: Simplified APIs and architecture patterns.
• Cross-platform capabilities: Run your applications on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

While .NET 7 has already proven its mettle, .NET 8 is poised to take application development further with AI integration, improved cloud-native tools, and developer productivity enhancements.

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2. Performance Improvements: The Core of .NET 7/8

Performance has always been a key focus of .NET, and the latest versions deliver remarkable advancements:

A. Native AOT (Ahead-of-Time Compilation)

• Produces lightweight and fast executables with a reduced memory footprint.
• Especially useful for microservices, IoT devices, and containerized applications.
• Example: A small microservice built with AOT compiles down to a fraction of its original size.

B. Optimized Garbage Collection (GC)

• Improvements in Gen 0 and Gen 1 GC cycles reduce memory fragmentation.
• Better scalability for high-concurrency server applications.

C. JSON Serialization with System.Text.Json

• Faster and more memory-efficient than Newtonsoft.Json.
• Example: Serialize complex objects with polymorphic type support:

  csharp
  var options = new JsonSerializerOptions { WriteIndented = true };
  var json = JsonSerializer.Serialize(myObject, options);
  

D. LINQ Query Optimization

• LINQ queries now use more efficient algorithms, reducing processing time for large datasets.

E. Regular Expressions (Regex)

• Regex patterns are now compiled into bytecode, improving speed and reducing runtime overhead.

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3. Minimal APIs: Build Lightweight and Fast APIs

.NET 7/8 takes Minimal APIs to the next level, making them a go-to choice for building lightweight, high-performance web applications and microservices.

A. What Are Minimal APIs?

Minimal APIs allow developers to create web APIs with very little boilerplate code, following a more functional programming style. They are perfect for:

• Microservices
• Small-scale projects
• Proof of concepts (POCs)

B. Example: A Minimal API in Action

Here’s how you can create a simple web API with .NET 7:

csharp
var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
var app = builder.Build();

app.MapGet("/", () => "Hello, World!");
app.MapPost("/data", (MyData data) => $"Received: {data.Name}");

app.Run();

record MyData(string Name);

C. Key Advantages

1. Simplified Dependency Injection (DI):

   csharp
   builder.Services.AddSingleton<IMyService, MyService>();
   app.MapGet("/service", (IMyService service) => service.GetData());
   

2. Built-in Swagger Support: Add API documentation effortlessly.

   csharp
   builder.Services.AddEndpointsApiExplorer();
   builder.Services.AddSwaggerGen();
   app.UseSwagger();
   app.UseSwaggerUI();
   

D. Use Cases for Minimal APIs

• Build RESTful APIs for mobile and web apps.
• Develop event-driven services.
• Rapidly prototype new features for your project.

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4. Modern Development Practices with .NET 7/8

A. Clean Architecture

Adopt Clean Architecture or Hexagonal Architecture for better separation of concerns:

1. Domain Layer: Contains core business logic.
2. Application Layer: Coordinates use cases.
3. Infrastructure Layer: Handles persistence and external dependencies.
4. Presentation Layer: Includes APIs, UI, and other user-facing components.

B. Cloud-Native Development

1. Containerization with Docker:
   • Deploy microservices in Docker containers for scalability.
   • Example: Use .NET’s built-in container tools to reduce image size.
2. Serverless with Azure Functions:
   • Create event-driven applications that scale automatically.
3. gRPC for Communication:
   • High-performance RPC framework for interservice communication.

C. Integration with Modern Frontends

• Use .NET with React, Angular, or Blazor.
• Example: Build SPAs using Blazor WebAssembly:

  csharp
  <div>
      <h3>Hello, @UserName!</h3>
      <button @onclick="LoadData">Click me</button>
  </div>
  

D. Dependency Injection Everywhere

Inject services efficiently in APIs, controllers, or Blazor components:

csharp
builder.Services.AddScoped<IMyRepository, MyRepository>();

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5. Tools and Ecosystem in .NET 7/8

1. Entity Framework Core 7/8:
   • Optimize data access with features like bulk updates and improved LINQ translation.
2. MAUI (Multi-platform App UI):
   • Build cross-platform apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.
3. SignalR:
   • Enable real-time notifications and live data updates.

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6. Practical Use Case: Food Delivery API

Imagine building a food delivery platform backend. Here’s how .NET 7 can help:

Step 1: Define a Minimal API

csharp
app.MapGet("/vendors", (IVendorService service) => service.GetVendors());
app.MapPost("/order", (Order order) => $"Order for {order.ProductName} received!");

Step 2: Use Dependency Injection

csharp
builder.Services.AddSingleton<IVendorService, VendorService>();

Step 3: Add Swagger for API Documentation

csharp
app.UseSwagger();
app.UseSwaggerUI();

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7. Getting Started with .NET 7/8

Learning Resources

1. Official .NET Documentation
2. Courses on Pluralsight or Udemy:
   • Focus on Minimal APIs and modern .NET practices.
3. Community GitHub repositories for hands-on practice.

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8. Final Thoughts

.NET 7/8 is designed to meet the demands of modern application development with a focus on speed, simplicity, and scalability. By mastering Minimal APIs, clean architecture, and the latest tools, you can elevate your career as a .NET developer and stay ahead in the industry.

What are your thoughts on .NET 7/8? Let me know in the comments

Your Ultimate Guide to Angular Routing and State Management

 

Angular is one of the most popular frameworks for building dynamic, single-page applications (SPAs). Two key features that stand out in Angular development are Routing and State Management. These features are pivotal for building scalable, maintainable, and user-friendly applications. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into Angular’s routing capabilities and state management techniques, providing you with the insights you need to master them.

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Part 1: Understanding Angular Routing

Routing in Angular enables navigation between different views or components within a single-page application. It’s built around the Angular Router, which helps manage navigation and the corresponding URL updates.

1. What is Angular Routing?

Angular Routing allows users to move between different parts of your app seamlessly, without a full page reload. By associating specific URLs with components, Angular Router maps a user’s navigation to the relevant view.

2. Setting Up Angular Routing

Follow these steps to set up routing in an Angular app:

1. Generate a New Angular App (if you don’t already have one):

   ng new angular-routing-example --routing
   

   Adding --routing automatically generates the AppRoutingModule.

2. Configure Routes in app-routing.module.ts:

   import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
   import { RouterModule, Routes } from '@angular/router';
   import { HomeComponent } from './home/home.component';
   import { AboutComponent } from './about/about.component';
   
   const routes: Routes = [
       { path: '', component: HomeComponent },
       { path: 'about', component: AboutComponent },
       { path: '**', redirectTo: '' } // Wildcard route for invalid URLs
   ];
   
   @NgModule({
       imports: [RouterModule.forRoot(routes)],
       exports: [RouterModule]
   })
   export class AppRoutingModule {}
   

3. Use the <router-outlet> Directive: In your app.component.html, include the router outlet where components will render based on the current route.

   <nav>
       <a routerLink="">Home</a>
       <a routerLink="about">About</a>
   </nav>
   <router-outlet></router-outlet>
   

4. Add Router Links in Templates: Use the routerLink directive to enable navigation without reloading the page.

3. Lazy Loading Routes

Lazy loading helps reduce the initial load time of your application by loading feature modules only when needed.

1. Create a Feature Module:

   ng generate module feature-module --route feature --module app.module
   

2. Configure Lazy Loading in app-routing.module.ts:

   const routes: Routes = [
       { path: 'feature', loadChildren: () => import('./feature-module/feature-module.module').then(m => m.FeatureModule) }
   ];
   

4. Route Guards

Use route guards to protect specific routes based on conditions like authentication.

• Create a Guard:

  ng generate guard auth
  

• Apply the Guard to Routes:

  { path: 'dashboard', component: DashboardComponent, canActivate: [AuthGuard] }
  

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Part 2: Angular State Management

State management is crucial for managing shared data across components and maintaining application state consistency. Angular provides multiple ways to handle state, ranging from simple services to powerful libraries like NgRx.

1. Why State Management Matters

• Consistency: Ensures all components see the same data.
• Predictability: Centralized state is easier to debug.
• Scalability: Simplifies managing complex data flows in large applications.

2. Using Angular Services for State Management

Services are a simple way to share data between components.

1. Create a Service:

   ng generate service shared-state
   

2. Store State in the Service:

   import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
   
   @Injectable({ providedIn: 'root' })
   export class SharedStateService {
       private state: any = {};
   
       setState(key: string, value: any): void {
           this.state[key] = value;
       }
   
       getState(key: string): any {
           return this.state[key];
       }
   }
   

3. Inject the Service in Components:

   import { Component } from '@angular/core';
   import { SharedStateService } from './shared-state.service';
   
   @Component({
       selector: 'app-example',
       template: `<p>{{ data }}</p>`
   })
   export class ExampleComponent {
       data: any;
   
       constructor(private sharedState: SharedStateService) {
           this.sharedState.setState('example', 'Hello, Angular!');
           this.data = this.sharedState.getState('example');
       }
   }
   

3. Managing Complex State with NgRx

NgRx is a reactive state management library for Angular, based on Redux.

1. Install NgRx:

   ng add @ngrx/store
   

2. Define State and Actions:

   export interface AppState {
       counter: number;
   }
   
   export const increment = createAction('[Counter Component] Increment');
   export const decrement = createAction('[Counter Component] Decrement');
   

3. Create a Reducer:

   export const initialState = 0;
   
   const _counterReducer = createReducer(initialState,
       on(increment, state => state + 1),
       on(decrement, state => state - 1)
   );
   
   export function counterReducer(state: number | undefined, action: Action) {
       return _counterReducer(state, action);
   }
   

4. Register the Store: Add the reducer to AppModule:

   imports: [StoreModule.forRoot({ counter: counterReducer })]
   

5. Use Selectors and Dispatchers in Components:

   import { Store } from '@ngrx/store';
   import { increment, decrement } from './counter.actions';
   
   constructor(private store: Store<{ counter: number }>) {}
   
   increment() {
       this.store.dispatch(increment());
   }
   
   decrement() {
       this.store.dispatch(decrement());
   }
   

4. Choosing the Right Approach

• Use Services for simple, localized state.
• Use NgRx for large, complex applications with multiple data flows.

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Conclusion

Angular’s routing and state management capabilities empower developers to create seamless, user-friendly, and scalable applications. While routing ensures smooth navigation, effective state management keeps your app organized and predictable. By mastering these features, you can take your Angular applications to the next level.

Let us know how you’re utilizing Angular’s routing and state management in your projects! Share your tips and tricks in the comments below.

Angular Inputs and Outputs: Sharing Data Between Parent and Child Components

A common pattern in Angular is sharing data between a parent component and one or more child components. 

Implement this pattern with the @Input() and @Output() decorators.

Consider the following hierarchy: 

<parent-component>

  <child-component></child-component>

</parent-component>

@Input() and @Output()

give a child component a way to communicate with its parent component. 

@Input()   lets a parent component update data in the child component. Conversely, @Output() lets the child send data to a parent component.