NancyFX, the lightweight web framework for .NET

NancyFx/Nancy is an open-source, lightweight framework for building HTTP-based services on .NET and Mono.

It offers a lightweight and easy-to-use alternative to other frameworks like ASP.NET MVC or Web API, which are heavier and more complex.

Nancy focuses on simplicity and flexibility, allowing developers to create fast and efficient applications without the need for a lot of configuration and code.

Features of NancyFX:

• Lightweight and fast: Designed to be easy to use and configure without sacrificing performance.
• Modular: Support for multiple modules, making code organization easier.
• No dependencies: Can run on any host without the need for external dependencies.
• Clear and fluid syntax: Focused on simplicity and code readability.
• Cross-platform: Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Integrated support for testing: Facilitates the creation of unit and integration tests.

NancyFX is Open Source and all its code and documentation are available in the project repository on GitHub - NancyFx/Nancy.

Installing NancyFX

To start using NancyFX in your .NET project, you first need to install the library via NuGet. You can do this through the NuGet Package Manager in Visual Studio or using the NuGet console.

Install-Package Nancy

Additionally, you will need to install a hosting service, for example, OWIN (Open Web Interface for .NET).

Install-Package Nancy.Owin
Install-Package Microsoft.Owin.Selfhost
Install-Package Microsoft.Owin.Host.HttpListener

How to use NancyFX

Nancy is a web server framework that uses a module-based routing structure. Modules are classes that handle specific HTTP requests and return responses.

Each module is assigned to a specific URL route, allowing the framework to route requests to the corresponding module.

using Nancy;

public class HelloModule : NancyModule
{
    public HelloModule()
    {
        Get("/", _ => "Hello, World!");
    }
}

Basic example: Hello World

This example shows how to create a basic web application that responds with “Hello, World!” to any GET request.

using Microsoft.Owin.Hosting;
using Owin;
using Nancy.Owin;

internal class Program
{
	static void Main(string[] args)
	{
		var url = "http://localhost:8888/";

		// start OWIN host
		using (WebApp.Start<Startup>(url))
		{
			Console.WriteLine("NancyFX server running on http://localhost:8888");
			Console.ReadLine();
		}
	}
}

class Startup
{
	public void Configuration(IAppBuilder app)
	{
		app.UseNancy();
	}
}

public class HelloModule : NancyModule
{
	public HelloModule()
	{
		Get("/", _ => "Hello, World!");
	}
}