Serving data for mobile apps - which framework to use? Or whether to use ASP.NET at all?

Question

User1588895354 posted

I want to access a SQL Server database from various mobile devices. This database already has views, stored procedures, etc.

The host will have a fixed IP address, but is not guaranteed even to have a web site. The SQL Server may be part of a Windows domain or just running on Windows 10 Enterprise or Pro.

I would like to take advantage of the infrastructure that various frameworks provide (Web Forms, MVC, Web Pages, etc.) to allow users to access and change data, but I would like to minimize the overhead and complications involved using IIS etc.

At the other end of the spectrum I could just use TCP sockets and a Windows service to process the requests, but then I have to write a whole extra bunch of code to manage user login, data back and forth, and dropped connections (from cellular e.g.), and I am not interested in reinventing the wheel.

Would someone please suggest where I might begin?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

User475983607 posted

Your question is not specific enough to really guess what you need.  Web Forms and MVC are UI frameworks.  If you need to build UI then MVC is a good choice.  

If your mobile development tool chain has a UI component and data flow is needed then look into Web API which is a RESTful service.  

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/tutorials/first-web-api?view=aspnetcore-2.1

If the mobile app requires user Identity for security then ASP.NET Identity might be a good choice.  

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/security/authentication/identity?view=aspnetcore-2.1&tabs=visual-studio

If you don't want to use IIS hosting then look into ASP Core which is multi-platform. 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/?view=aspnetcore-2.1

Answer 2

User1588895354 posted

Thanks for the quick reply. From what you said, it seems as though Web API might be the way to go. Here is more specific information, in case that would change your answer.

The mobile platform will be IOS and Android phones / tablets, developed with Xamarin on either Mac or Windows. My understanding is that IOS expects SSL.

There is a UI on these which will allow Add/Update/Delete. Security would be enforced by user name/password chosen by the user and stored in the database (no Windows Authentication).

Thanks again!

Answer 3

User475983607 posted

The mobile platform will be IOS and Android phones / tablets, developed with Xamarin on either Mac or Windows.

Xamarin is toolkit for building applications installed on a mobile device.  MVC is web application hosted on a web server so you don't need MVC if you plan to build a Xamarin application.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/xamarin/xamarin-forms/

My understanding is that IOS expects SSL.

Using SSL goes without saying.  You should always use SSL.

There is a UI on these which will allow Add/Update/Delete. Security would be enforced by user name/password chosen by the user and stored in the database (no Windows Authentication).

The Xamarin docs explain REST conventions; https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/xamarin/xamarin-forms/data-cloud/consuming/rest

Authentication is covered here; https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/xamarin/xamarin-forms/data-cloud/authentication/