What is Kestrel (vs IIS / Express)
🚀 Introducing Kestrel: The Versatile Web Server!
Are you feeling lost in the sea of web servers? Don't worry, I've got your back! Today, we're going to dive into the wonderful world of Kestrel and understand how it relates to IIS/IIS Express. By the end of this blog post, you'll have a crystal-clear understanding of Kestrel and its role in the ASP.NET Core ecosystem. Let's get started! 💪
🌐 What is Kestrel?
Kestrel is a cross-platform web server optimized for speed and scalability. It's developed by Microsoft and specifically designed to work seamlessly with ASP.NET Core applications. Unlike IIS or IIS Express, Kestrel is not tied to any specific operating system or platform. That means you can host your ASP.NET Core apps on Windows, macOS, or Linux without any hassle. 🌈
🤔 How does Kestrel relate to IIS/IIS Express?
Ah, the million-dollar question! Here's the deal:
IIS Express: This lightweight version of IIS is perfect for local development. When you hit F5 in Visual Studio, IIS Express springs into action, allowing you to test your ASP.NET Core app. However, it's important to note that IIS Express acts as a reverse proxy for Kestrel. It forwards incoming requests to Kestrel, which is actually handling the heavy lifting.
IIS: As the big brother of IIS Express, IIS is a full-fledged web server that can handle heavy production loads. When hosting your ASP.NET Core app on IIS, it's still Kestrel that does most of the work behind the scenes. IIS acts as the reverse proxy, just like in the case of IIS Express.
In a nutshell, Kestrel does the heavy lifting, while IIS and IIS Express handle the reverse proxy duties for different scenarios.
⚡️ Do you really need Kestrel?
You might be wondering if you actually need Kestrel, especially if you develop on a PC and host in Azure without any cross-platform requirements. The answer is a resounding yes! Even though IIS is fantastic for production scenarios, Kestrel is the recommended web server for ASP.NET Core applications. It's lightweight, blazing fast, and provides excellent scalability. Plus, many sample projects and tutorials use Kestrel by default.
💡 Easy Solutions for Common Confusions
If you're still seeing the IIS Express icon in your system tray, even though you're using Kestrel, don't worry! It's a common confusion. Here are some easy solutions:
Check your launchSettings.json: Ensure that your ASP.NET Core project's launchSettings.json file specifies "IIS Express" as the launchProfile instead of "Kestrel". This ensures that Visual Studio launches the app with IIS Express as the reverse proxy.
Use other web servers: If you're not a fan of IIS Express and want to use Kestrel directly for local development, you can configure your project to use the Kestrel launchProfile instead. You can do this by modifying the launchSettings.json file.
Debug with Kestrel: To debug your app with Kestrel, you can simply right-click on your ASP.NET Core project in Visual Studio, select "Properties", go to the "Debug" tab, and uncheck the "Launch browser" option. This will prevent your app from automatically launching in IIS Express when debugging.
💬 Engage with the Community!
Now that you're equipped with a solid understanding of Kestrel, it's time to take action! Join online forums, follow tech blogs, and participate in discussions about web servers and ASP.NET Core. Share your experiences, ask questions, and learn from the vibrant community of developers out there. Together, we can create amazing things! 💪💻
So, what are you waiting for? Go forth and conquer the realm of Kestrel and ASP.NET Core. Happy coding! 🎉🚀
What other questions or confusions do you have about Kestrel or web servers? Share them in the comments below and let's discuss!
