.NET: Create and Run a “Hello World” Web Application

To create and run a “Hello World” web application using .NET, you would typically follow these steps, assuming you’re targeting a simple ASP.NET Core application. This guide provides an overview of the process. For more detailed instructions, Microsoft’s official documentation or tutorials specific to your development environment would be the best resources.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have the following installed:

• .NET SDK: The Software Development Kit (SDK) includes everything you need to build and run .NET applications.
• Code Editor: While you can use any editor, Visual Studio Code or Visual Studio provides additional features and integrations for .NET development.

Step 1: Create the Web Application

First, open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to the directory where you wish to create your project. Then, execute the following command:

dotnet new webapp -o MyApp --no-https

This command creates a new ASP.NET Core web application named MyApp without enabling HTTPS, simplifying development. Navigate into your project directory with:

cd MyApp

Step 2: Explore Project Files

Using your preferred code editor, open the HelloWorldWebApp directory. You’ll see several files and folders:

• Program.cs: The entry point for the application.
• Startup.cs: Configures services and the app’s request pipeline.
• wwwroot: Contains static files like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Pages: Includes Razor pages, a syntax for combining HTML with C# to produce dynamic web content.

Step 3: Customize Your Application

To personalize your “Hello World” application, locate the Index.cshtml file in the Pages directory. Open it and modify the content inside the file to display a “Hello World” message. For example:

@page
@model IndexModel
@{
    ViewData["Title"] = "Home page";
}


    Hello, World!
    Welcome to your first .NET web application.




Step 4: Run Your Application

Return to your terminal or command prompt. Run your application with the following command:

shell
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dotnet run

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This command compiles and launches your web application. Once the application starts, you'll see a URL in the terminal—usually http://localhost:5000. Open this URL in your web browser to view your "Hello World" message.
Step 5: Next Steps
Congratulations! You've successfully created and run your first .NET web application. From here, you can explore more about .NET and ASP.NET Core by:

Adding more pages and learning about routing.
Exploring Razor syntax further to dynamically generate HTML content.
Understanding the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern for organizing your application.
Conclusion
Building a "Hello World" web application in .NET is a simple yet enlightening first step into the world of .NET development. This exercise not only familiarizes you with the .NET project structure and basic concepts but also sets a foundation for future learning and development. As you continue to explore .NET, you'll discover the extensive features and capabilities it offers for building sophisticated and scalable web applications.