Dependency Injection with ASP.NET Web API

Question

I am trying to use DI in my ASP.NET Web API Controller. Apparently there are a few implementations out there. I was just wondering which of these (Castle, Ninject, unity etc.) would be the easiest to configure/maintain in combination with ASP.NET Web API? I am getting this error:

DI.Controllers.ImportJsonController' does not have a default constructor.

If I add an empty constructor, then the constructor with IFilter is ignored.

This is my controller:

public class ImportJsonController : ApiController
{
    private readonly IFilter _filter;

    public ImportJsonController(IFilter filter)
    {
        _filter = filter;
    }

    public HttpResponseMessage Post([FromBody]dynamic value)
    {
        //do something
        return response;
    }
}

Sorry, but "which would be the easiest to configure" is primary opinion based. Besides, Autofac, Castle, Ninject, StructureMap, Simple Injector, Unity all have integration packages for Web API. — Steven
– Steven, Commented Mar 25, 2014 at 12:52

Mark Seemann · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-25 12:49:43Z

4

You don't need a DI Container for this. Here's how to do it by hand:

public class PoorMansCompositionRoot : IHttpControllerActivator
{
    public IHttpController Create(
        HttpRequestMessage request,
        HttpControllerDescriptor controllerDescriptor,
        Type controllerType)
    {
        if (controllerType == typeof(ImportJsonController))
            return new ImportJsonController(new MyFilter());

        return null;
    }
}

You need to tell ASP.NET Web API about this class (e.g. in your Global.asax):

GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Services.Replace(
    typeof(IHttpControllerActivator),
    new PoorMansCompositionRoot());

You can read about all the details here: http://blog.ploeh.dk/2012/09/28/DependencyInjectionandLifetimeManagementwithASP.NETWebAPI

answered Mar 25, 2014 at 12:49

Mark Seemann

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