Create ASP.Net Web API from MS SQL in minutes with Instant Web API? Representational State Transfer (REST or RESTful) is a technical description of how the World Wide Web works. If to imagine that the Web is a device, and it could have an operating system, its architectural style would be RESTful. A RESTful API is a type of web server that enables user-operated or automated clients to access resources that model a system’s data and functions. A well-designed REST API entice developers to use the web service and is today a must-have feature.

Thanks to JSON, REST offers better support for browser clients. REST provides superior performance, particularly through caching for information that’s not altered and not dynamic. REST is the protocol used most often for major services such as Yahoo, Ebay, Amazon, and even Google. REST is generally faster and uses less bandwidth. It’s also easier to integrate with existing websites with no need to refactor site infrastructure. This enables developers to work faster rather than spend time rewriting a site from scratch. Instead, they can simply add additional functionality.

Use Links for Relationships: Another way to show relationships between resources, without falling back on using keys in an SQL-like manner, is to embed links inside your responses. A cool thing about links is that they allow autodiscovery by clients! When the client gets the response back then it can see in the _link section what other actions it can follow from here. This is just like when you are surfing the web where you come to a page and then you can follow its links to new pages. Another nice thing is that clients will have fewer hard-coded links in their code, which will make the code more robust. If the client wants to see the customer’s orders, it can just follow the orders link to get them.

I see that this software is using Visual Studio 2017. Do I need a license for this product? No, as a single developer you can qualify for the free edition. You can download it from Microsoft site: Visual Studio Community 2017 I don’t have a license for Microsoft SQL Server. Do I need one? No, Microsoft provides a free download for SQL Express Edition server. You can get yours here. I see that a backup of AdventureWorks database is provided with the installation. How can I restore it on the server? In order to restore the backup file please download SSMS from this site: SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Once the code is generated am I able to modify it? Yes, by purchasing a license you should be able to modify the code however you see fit. See additional info at Use Core EF to build Instant Web API.