MicroRest, a simplified REST framework for .NET 3.5+

Update 2:
Now it’s 2015 and WebApi is almost in version 3 (vNext edition), I’ve removed the Microrest source from Bitbucket.

Update:
You can now grab MicroRest on Nuget: Install-Package MicroRest

I’ve been using StackService recently to create a private REST API for a project at work, and enjoying its simplicity over T-Rex sized WCF alot. I’ve discovered that it doesn’t fit neatly with the pattern we employ at work for API design: certain behaviours are explicity disabled to ensure you don’t get the domain into an invalid state (creating a user for example). StackService is designed so that everything is mapped directly to objects or DTOs, so essentially everything you do is based around an object - CRUD operations. If you want a set of custom parameters for a REST method you need to create then a brand new object is required for each method.

That’s how it’s designed and the author has made it clear why it’s like that, which has meant searching for another REST framework that fits our design pattern. I’ve tried the 2 competing technologies for StackService - WCF and NancyFX. You can expose REST with WCF but it’s a lot of farting about for what many people think isn’t a pleasant experience, one of the reasons StackService was made. NancyFX was my clear alternative choice, but as I discovered its .NET 4-centric and the projects I’m looking after are stuck with 3.5 for various reasons.

So I did what every software developer does: re-invented the wheel and made my own micro REST framework, called MicroRest. It’s sitting on Bitbucket with just 4 classes and not much code, albeit very simplistic reflection. All and any feedback (as long as it’s glowing and sycophantic) are welcome, as are patches and contributions on Bitbucket.

I'm Chris Small, a software engineer working in London. This is my tech blog. Find out more about me via Github, Stackoverflow, Resume