IdentityServer 4 as a Console Application

Question

I'm trying to run IdentityServer4 as console application. But I'm unsure if I'm doing right. I created Console Application (.NET Core) instead of ASP.NET Core Web Application (.NET Core).

My setup of WebHostBuilder is pretty straightforward:

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        var host = new WebHostBuilder()
            .UseKestrel()
            .UseStartup<Startup>()
            .Build();

        host.Run();
    }
}

Also the Startup class is very tiny:

public class Startup
{
    public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
    {
        services.AddIdentityServer()
                .AddTemporarySigningCredential()
                .AddInMemoryIdentityResources(Config.GetIdentityResources())
                .AddInMemoryApiResources(Config.GetApiResources())
                .AddInMemoryClients(Config.GetClients())
                .AddTestUsers(Config.GetUsers());
    }

    // This method gets called by the runtime. Use this method to configure the HTTP request pipeline.
    public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IHostingEnvironment env, ILoggerFactory loggerFactory)
    {
        loggerFactory.AddConsole();
        app.UseIdentityServer();
    }
}

I'm just concerned if I'm missing some pieces which could lead to problems later. Am I on the right way?

Answer 1

Here are the steps to create Identity Server v4 executable using .NET Core version 1.1.

Create project with Console Application (.NET Core). In the Mainmethod implement following code:

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Console.Title = "IdentityServer";

        var host = new WebHostBuilder()
            .UseKestrel()
            .UseStartup<Startup>()
            .Build();

        host.Run();
    }
}

In the Startup class implement following code:

public class Startup
{
    public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
    {
        // configure identity server with in-memory stores, keys, clients and scopes
        services.AddIdentityServer()
            .AddTemporarySigningCredential()
            .AddInMemoryApiResources(Config.GetApiResources())
            .AddInMemoryClients(Config.GetClients())
            .AddTestUsers(Config.GetUsers());
    }

    public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IHostingEnvironment env, ILoggerFactory loggerFactory)
    {
        loggerFactory.AddConsole(LogLevel.Debug);
        app.UseDeveloperExceptionPage();

        app.UseIdentityServer();
    }
}

To generate executable, you must not have a "type": "platform" in your project.json. For example my project.json looks like this:

{
  "dependencies": {
    "IdentityServer4": "1.1.1",
    "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Diagnostics": "1.1.0",
    "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting": "1.1.0",
    "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Server.Kestrel": "1.1.0",
    "Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Console": "1.1.0",
    "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
      "version": "1.1.0"
    }
  },

  "frameworks": {
    "netcoreapp1.1": {
    }
  },

  "runtimes": {
    "win7-x64": {},
    "win8-x64": {},
    "win10-x64": {}
  }
}

Than you can generate executable with dotnet publish command like below.

dotnet publish -c release -r win7-x64
dotnet publish -c release -r win8-x64
dotnet publish -c release -r win10-x64

Disclaimer: This is minimal running version, maybe you will need extended configuration, depends on what you need.