As part of the Azure SDK 2.5.1 release, a new feature called Azure API Apps were included. This new feature raises the capabilities of ASP.NET Web API, extending it with Swagger metadata while providing a simple to manage interface in the Azure Portal. Extend your API with authentication and no code changes, or generate an SDK for your API with a few clicks. A full definition of API Apps and their capabilities is available in the online Azure documentation. Video coverage of the API Apps announcement with Scott Guthrie is available online:
Let’s take a quick look at some concepts, with links to more information.
- API Apps live in an App Gateway. This gateway manages add-on functionality such as authentication and update policies for the API. A gateway resides on a single host.
- Gateways are contained within a standard Azure Resource Group.
- API Apps can use connectors to access SaaS (software as a service) platforms such as Office 365 and Salesforce.
- When you create an Azure API App in Visual Studio, you can review the Swagger metadata for your app by navigating a web browser to the default web location of /swagger/docs/v1 in your compiled and running project.
Given the following ASP.NET API Controllers:
The following swagger format is output:
We have a complete tutorial online demonstrating how to get started defining your first API, publishing the API so that others can re-deploy it, and finally deploy the API so that you can consume it.
There is a lot of coverage of the introduction of our new Web App platform, you can learn more at the following links:
- Channel 9 coverage of Web Apps
- Channel 9 talks about Logic Apps
- Introduction to Mobile Apps on Channel 9
- Scott Hunter and Scott Hanselman talk about API Apps on Channel 9
- The Azure blog is showcasing the entire platform
If you have an active Azure subscription, navigate over to the Azure Portal and try the new API Apps. If you are new to Azure and don't yet have a subscription, you can try Azure App Service for free with no credit card and no commitment needed.