What is Blazor

Summary

This tutorial introduces Blazor, a framework that allows developers to build interactive web UIs using C# instead of JavaScript. It explains the challenges of using separate client-side and server-side languages, and how Blazor simplifies development by leveraging WebAssembly to run C# code directly in the browser. The video covers Blazor's two hosting models—WebAssembly and Server—demonstrating how both offer unique advantages. The tutorial also provides a guide to setting up a local development environment, including installing the .NET Core SDK and Visual Studio, ensuring developers are ready to start working with Blazor.

Takeaways

• 😀 Blazor allows developers to use C# for both client-side and server-side web development, eliminating the need for JavaScript frameworks like Angular, React, or Vue.
• 😀 Blazor leverages WebAssembly to run C# code directly in the browser, providing a secure and modern alternative to JavaScript.
• 😀 The two main hosting models for Blazor applications are Blazor WebAssembly (client-side) and Blazor Server (server-side).
• 😀 In Blazor WebAssembly, the entire application, its dependencies, and the .NET runtime are downloaded to the browser, making it a fully client-side solution.
• 😀 Blazor Server uses a SignalR connection between the client and the server. Only the differences (diff) in the UI are sent to the client, keeping the app responsive and efficient.
• 😀 Blazor embraces Single Page Application (SPA) architecture, meaning it dynamically updates the same page in response to user actions for faster, more responsive applications.
• 😀 To get started with Blazor development, developers need to install the .NET Core SDK 3.1 or later.
• 😀 Developers should verify their .NET Core SDK version by running the 'dotnet --list-sdks' command in the command prompt.
• 😀 Visual Studio 2019 (including the free Community Edition) is recommended for Blazor development, and the ASP.NET and Web Development workload must be installed.
• 😀 Knowledge of C#, HTML, and CSS is essential for building Blazor applications. If you're a .NET developer, learning Blazor is highly beneficial for your skillset.

Q & A

What is Blazor?

Blazor is a framework that allows developers to build interactive web UIs using C# instead of JavaScript. It enables C# code to be executed both on the server and in the client browser using WebAssembly.

Why should developers use Blazor?

Blazor allows .NET developers to use their existing C# skills for both client-side and server-side development, eliminating the need to learn JavaScript frameworks like Angular, React, or Vue.

How does Blazor execute C# code in the browser if browsers understand only JavaScript?

Blazor uses WebAssembly to run C# code directly in the browser. WebAssembly allows the execution of code written in languages like C# within the browser's security sandbox, similar to how JavaScript frameworks work.

What are the two hosting models in Blazor?

Blazor offers two hosting models: Blazor WebAssembly and Blazor Server. Blazor WebAssembly runs the application directly in the browser using WebAssembly, while Blazor Server executes the application on the server with UI updates sent over a SignalR connection.

What is the difference between Blazor WebAssembly and Blazor Server?

Blazor WebAssembly runs the application code entirely in the browser, downloading the application, its dependencies, and the .NET runtime. In contrast, Blazor Server executes the application on the server and only sends UI diffs back to the client over a SignalR connection.

What is WebAssembly and why is it important for Blazor?

WebAssembly is a binary instruction format that allows code written in languages like C# to run in the browser. It is crucial for Blazor as it enables the execution of C# directly in the browser, making Blazor a viable option for building client-side web applications without relying on JavaScript.

What is SignalR and how does it work with Blazor Server?

SignalR is a library that provides real-time communication between the client and server. In Blazor Server, SignalR is used to transmit events from the client (like button clicks) to the server and send back the updated UI diffs, keeping the application responsive.

What kind of architecture does Blazor embrace?

Blazor embraces the Single Page Application (SPA) architecture. This means that it dynamically rewrites the same page in response to user actions, providing a faster and more responsive experience.

What are the system requirements for setting up Blazor development?

To set up Blazor development, you need to install the .NET Core SDK (version 3.1 or later) and an IDE like Visual Studio 2019, Visual Studio Code, or use the .NET Core CLI.

What is the role of Visual Studio in Blazor development?

Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) that helps in developing Blazor applications. To work with Blazor, you need to install the ASP.NET and web development workload in Visual Studio.