C#•2y ago

Help for Creating a Maui Application with Asp.net API and SQL Server Database Integration

I've been exploring the process of developing a Maui application integrated with its own API (Asp.net) and connected to a SQL Server database. I'm reaching out here in the hopes that someone might have come across documentation or resources explaining this integration in detail.

During my search, I stumbled upon a video tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J3nuUegtL4&t=140s) demonstrating the creation of an API encompassing login, registration, and other functionalities using Identity.

I'm specifically interested in understanding how to access the tables automatically generated via migration in the SQL Server database and subsequently utilize them within a Maui application.(Reference: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/whats-new-with-identity-in-dotnet-8/)

YouTubePatrick God

.NET 8 Authentication with Identity in a Web API with Bearer Tokens...

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.NET BlogJeremy Likness

What's new with identity in .NET 8 - .NET Blog

A summary of what's new with identity (authentication and authorization) in the latest ASP. NET Core release for .NET 8.

KKratos I've been exploring the process of developing a Maui application integrated with...

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 9:14 AM

generally what you're asking is not the opposite of the link you sent

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 9:14 AM

you do not use that database from MAUI

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 9:14 AM

you still do everything on the API on aspnetcore

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 9:14 AM

and MAUI just authenticate by opening a login screen from the API

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 9:15 AM

like with an inapp browser or using an HttpClient + Post the FormData

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 9:15 AM

and for DB access of the actual data since you had a tokne, you hit a rest api with the token

KratosOP•1/10/24, 10:06 AM

I've come to understand that direct database access from Maui isn't possible. However, within my project, I have a Maui app, an ASP.NET API, and a library containing classes/tables for the database. I came across a tutorial on Identity that showcased automatic table creation through migration. My challenge is accessing these tables from the API. Do you happen to know of any GitHub projects that demonstrate using Identity within an ASP.NET Core API?"

KratosOP•1/10/24, 10:09 AM

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/asp-net-core-updates-in-dotnet-8-preview-4/#auth

.NET BlogDaniel Roth

ASP.NET Core updates in .NET 8 Preview 4 - .NET Blog

.NET 8 Preview 4 is now available! Check out what's new in ASP.NET Core in this update.

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 10:13 AM

My challenge is accessing these tables from the API

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 10:14 AM

make an API to access the existing REST api of aspentcore identity

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 10:14 AM

and use it as an authentication API

KKratos I've come to understand that direct database access from Maui isn't possible. Ho...

universalappco•1/10/24, 11:39 AM

Have you started your project? If you're able to share your code I may have some time to help get you started.

Are you using .NET Identity (Usernames stored in a database), or external identity providers such as Azure/Entra (Microsoft Identity Framework)?

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:50 AM

he linked AspNetCore Identity

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:50 AM

so it's likely not Entra at all

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:50 AM

he's also speaking about the db created by it

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:50 AM

which is the DBContext that goes after the

dotnet ef apply

dotnet ef apply

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:51 AM

with that in mind it means that there's an API with controller

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:51 AM

just use an HTTPClient and POST formdata of the user

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:51 AM

and you have a token

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:51 AM

that's it you're authenticated

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:54 AM

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:54 AM

you basically need to fully scafold this into aspnetcore

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 11:55 AM

and either

change the view to make them fit in an "In Browser App" WebView and just open that in MAUI
change the Controller so they don't depend anymore of MVC/View and they are now fully Api / Rest and do it manually with an HTTP Client

TTeBeCo Click to see attachment

universalappco•1/10/24, 1:24 PM

In that case then it should be fairly easy.

I haven't used the new token endpoints, but in .NET 8 there's built in endpoints for Token Based authentication, and it's only about 2 lines to add this on top of cookie-based auth that the web front-end uses.

Before .NET 8 it was possible to mix the two already, but the new endpoints make it even easier (but come with some caveats that @Kratos should consider)

@Kratos you already have .AddIdentityApiEndpoints() and .MapIdentityApi() in your program.cs so you're already setup to use these endpoints if they're suitable. From your MAUI app just use HttpClient to call the endpoints:

This article will get you started
https://andrewlock.net/exploring-the-dotnet-8-preview-introducing-the-identity-api-endpoints/

Andrew Lock | .NET Escapades

Introducing the Identity API endpoints: Exploring the .NET 8 previe...

In this post I introduce the new Identity APIs, show how they differ from the existing Identity support, and show how to use them.

Uuniversalappco In that case then it should be fairly easy. I haven't used the new token endpoi...

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 1:26 PM

In that case then it should be fairly easy.

exactly why i recommend it

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 1:26 PM

and it would also keep the thing secured

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 1:26 PM

aka: do not create your in house AuthN stack

TeBeCo•1/10/24, 1:27 PM

which also solve the next question "I need to consumer the API" ... yes use the token

KratosOP•1/10/24, 9:02 PM

@universalappco @TeBeCo Thanks for the advice. We'll give it a try and let you know if it worked.

Help for Creating a Maui Application with Asp.net API and SQL Server Database Integration

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