Web API code generator from MS SQL? 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.
The promise is that if you wait with thinking about shared data until you know what business capabilities you need to offer, it will lead to a less database-oriented design. I think his approach is a good way to jolt you out of the database-driven mindset, but you need to be careful that you don’t end up designing a REST-RPC hybrid. What I also like about this approach is that it minimizes the interface and doesn’t expose all data by default, but hides internal data (like logging and configuration tables) from the client and instead focuses on what the client actually needs. This also fits beautifully with veteran API designer Joshua Bloch’s maxim saying that When in doubt, leave it out (from his highly popular presentation on API design), and it also harmonizes with the REST principle that a representation of a resource doesn’t need to look like the underlying resource, but can be changed to make it easier for the client. So feel free to think about what would be the easiest interface for the API user, and then let your resource take data from multiple tables and leave out columns that are irrelevant to the job that clients need to perform.
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. Find additional info at Instant database Web API.