Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating from ASP.NET MVC to ASP.NET Core

Posted on by Agnes Berry

ASP.NET MVC has been a reliable framework for building web applications for many years. However, with the introduction of ASP.NET Core, Microsoft has provided a more modern, high-performance, and cross-platform framework that offers a range of advantages over the traditional ASP.NET MVC. Migrating to ASP.NET Core allows you to leverage better performance, cross-platform capabilities, and modern web development practices.

If you’re looking to modernize your ASP.NET MVC application, this article will walk you through the essential steps and considerations for migrating to ASP.NET Core.

Why Migrate to ASP.NET Core?

Before diving into the migration process, it’s essential to understand why migrating from ASP.NET MVC to ASP.NET Core is worth your time:

  1. Cross-Platform Support
    ASP.NET Core is cross-platform, which means you can run your applications on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This allows for more flexibility in terms of deployment and development environments.
  2. Performance Improvements
    ASP.NET Core is significantly faster than ASP.NET MVC, offering better performance through improvements like built-in dependency injection, lightweight frameworks, and asynchronous APIs.
  3. Modern Web Development
    ASP.NET Core supports the latest web standards and technologies, such as Razor Pages, Tag Helpers, and Blazor, enabling more efficient web development.
  4. Unified Development
    ASP.NET Core merges the concepts of MVC and Web API, meaning you no longer need to maintain separate frameworks for handling API requests and MVC logic.

Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating from ASP.NET MVC to ASP.NET Core

1. Prepare for Migration

Migrating an existing application from ASP.NET MVC to ASP.NET Core is not a one-click process, so proper planning is essential. Here are some steps to prepare:

  • Evaluate your application: Assess the size and complexity of your project. This will help you determine the scope of the migration process.
  • Upgrade your development environment: Install the latest version of Visual Studio and ensure that .NET Core SDK is installed.
  • Create a backup: Always create a backup of your ASP.NET MVC project before starting the migration.

2. Understand the Differences Between ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Core

ASP.NET Core introduces significant changes in architecture and project structure. Some key differences include:

  • Project Structure: ASP.NET Core uses a simplified folder structure with Startup.cs to configure services and middleware.
  • Global.asax: ASP.NET MVC uses Global.asax for application startup, which is replaced by the Startup.cs file in ASP.NET Core.
  • Web.config: ASP.NET MVC uses Web.config for configuration, but ASP.NET Core utilizes appsettings.json for environment and application settings.

3. Create a New ASP.NET Core Project

Instead of directly converting your ASP.NET MVC project to ASP.NET Core, it’s recommended to create a new ASP.NET Core project. Here’s how:

  • In Visual Studio, create a new ASP.NET Core Web Application project.
  • Choose the Web Application (Model-View-Controller) template to maintain the MVC pattern.

4. Migrate Dependencies

ASP.NET Core has a different set of libraries and packages compared to ASP.NET MVC. You’ll need to review and update your project dependencies:

  • Replace System.Web.Mvc with Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.
  • Replace packages like Ninject or Autofac for Dependency Injection with the built-in ASP.NET Core Dependency Injection.
  • Update NuGet packages and third-party libraries that may no longer be supported in ASP.NET Core.

5. Migrate Configuration Settings

ASP.NET MVC uses Web.config to store settings, whereas ASP.NET Core uses appsettings.json. You will need to move your configuration settings to this new format.

  • Open appsettings.json and transfer any relevant settings from your old Web.config file.
  • ASP.NET Core’s IConfiguration service allows you to access these settings easily throughout your application.

6. Update the Startup Class

ASP.NET Core replaces Global.asax with a Startup.cs file that handles application configuration, middleware, and services. The Startup class contains two main methods:

  • ConfigureServices: This method is used to add services (like MVC, authentication, and EF Core) to the Dependency Injection container.
  • Configure: This method sets up middleware, such as routing, error handling, and static files.

Here’s an example of how you might set up a basic Startup.cs file:

csharp
public class Startup
{
public Startup(IConfiguration configuration)
{
Configuration = configuration;
}

public IConfiguration Configuration { get; }

public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
services.AddControllersWithViews();
}

public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IWebHostEnvironment env)
{
if (env.IsDevelopment())
{
app.UseDeveloperExceptionPage();
}
else
{
app.UseExceptionHandler("/Home/Error");
app.UseHsts();
}
app.UseHttpsRedirection();
app.UseStaticFiles();
app.UseRouting();
app.UseAuthorization();
app.UseEndpoints(endpoints =>
{
endpoints.MapControllerRoute(
name: "default",
pattern: "{controller=Home}/{action=Index}/{id?}");
});
}
}

7. Migrate Controllers and Views

The structure of Controllers and Views is very similar in ASP.NET Core, but there are some changes in how they are handled. Follow these steps:

  • Move your controllers from the old ASP.NET MVC project to the Controllers folder of the new ASP.NET Core project.
  • Update any Controller actions and View references to ensure they are compatible with ASP.NET Core’s routing and model binding.
  • Move your views into the Views folder in the new project. Update the Razor syntax where necessary, especially if you use Tag Helpers.

8. Migrate Authentication and Authorization

ASP.NET Core has a revamped identity system, and if your ASP.NET MVC project uses Forms Authentication or ASP.NET Identity, you’ll need to migrate to ASP.NET Core Identity.

  • Install the Microsoft.AspNetCore.Identity package.
  • Set up authentication in Startup.cs using AddAuthentication() and UseAuthentication().

For example:

csharp
public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
services.AddAuthentication(CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme)
.AddCookie(options =>
{
options.LoginPath = "/Account/Login";
});
}

9. Test Your Application

Once you’ve completed the migration process, thoroughly test your application to ensure everything works as expected.

  • Test all functionality, including routing, database access, and user authentication.
  • Use integration tests and unit tests to ensure that your application behaves correctly after the migration.

Final Thoughts

Migrating from ASP.NET MVC to ASP.NET Core can be a challenging but rewarding process. The move will provide long-term benefits such as improved performance, modern features, and cross-platform support. With careful planning and execution, you can modernize your application and take advantage of everything ASP.NET Core has to offer. By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to a successful migration that ensures your web application remains future-proof.

Agnes Berry

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