In the rapidly changing software development landscape, speed, reliability, and user experience are crucial. Developers seek frameworks that enhance development without sacrificing performance. DevExpress Controls offers a comprehensive suite of UI components for creating high-performance, feature-rich applications across web, desktop, and mobile platforms. Supporting .NET, ASP.NET Core, WinForms, WPF, Blazor, and Xamarin, DevExpress provides tailored solutions for diverse needs. This guide examines how DevExpress UI controls have become an industry standard and how to maximize their benefits. In today’s digital age, high-performance software with beautiful interfaces and seamless user experiences is essential. DevExpress, a leader in UI component development, delivers robust and reliable tools. This article explores the reasons why DevExpress Controls are preferred by developers and software firms, and how they are recommended by MagnusMinds for .NET development. What Are DevExpress Controls? DevExpress Controls, provided by Developer Express Inc., are a suite of user interface components and reporting solutions aimed at enhancing application development across various platforms. These pre-built tools, including data grids, charts, dashboards, and schedulers, significantly reduce development time while improving software quality. They enable developers to concentrate on business logic rather than UI design. Designed for .NET applications, DevExpress Controls enhance productivity, improve user experience, and ensure enterprise-level performance with a range of ready-to-use components that streamline the development process. These controls are known for: Intuitive design and ease of integration Robust performance Rich functionality Modern UI/UX design capabilities Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Visual Studio Supported Platforms and Frameworks : Popular DevExpress Control Categories: Data Grids Filtering, sorting, grouping Master-detail views Virtual scrolling for large datasets Charts 50+ chart types Real-time updates Financial, line, pie, bar, heatmaps Pivot & Tree Lists OLAP-style pivoting Hierarchical tree navigation Scheduler Resource-based scheduling Recurrence patterns Google Calendar sync Report Designer Drag & drop layout Dynamic parameters Barcode/QR support Navigation Tools Accordion, tabbed view, navigation bars Key Features of DevExpress Controls 1. Platforms Supported by DevExpress DevExpress offers platform-specific suites of components tailored for different development environments: 2. High-Performance Data Grid The DevExpress Data Grid is one of the most powerful in the market. The DevExpress Grid Control is one of the fastest in the industry, even with datasets of over 100,000 rows. Features include: It offers: Fast rendering with virtual scrolling Built-in grouping, sorting, filtering Master-detail views Export to Excel, PDF, and more Inline editing Real-time data binding 3. Reporting & Dashboards With DevExpress Reporting Tools, you can: Create pixel-perfect reports Bind to various data sources (SQL, Excel, JSON) Use drag-and-drop designers Deploy interactive web dashboards 4. Beautiful Charts & Graphs Using DevExpress Charting Controls, developers can visualize data through DevExpress offers over 50+ chart types and real-time data rendering, including: Financial charts (candlestick, OHLC) Line and area charts Pie and donut charts Heatmaps and gauges Trendlines and custom tooltips Real-time updates Customizable series and legends 5. Advanced Reporting The DevExpress Reporting Suite is ideal for creating pixel-perfect reports with: Drag-and-drop designer Barcode, QR code, and image support Sub-reports and parameters Web and desktop viewers Export to PDF, Word, Excel, HTML 6. Scheduler & Calendar Controls Plan and manage tasks with calendar and Gantt chart views, appointment reminders, and resource management tools. Features like multi-resource scheduling, recurring appointments, agenda views, and sync with Outlook/Google Calendar make this control ideal for: Project management tools Healthcare and booking apps Employee attendance systems 7. Theming & Customization DevExpress allows total control over UI design with built-in themes or custom skins, enabling brand consistency. Dozens of built-in themes Theme Designer for custom branding Responsive design for web controls Dark and light modes 8. Enterprise-Ready Security Role-based access integration Audit trails GDPR compliance support Data masking and validation 9. Reporting with DevExpress Interactive web and desktop reports Export: PDF, Excel, Word, HTML Parameterized filters Embeddable report viewer controls 10. Dashboards and Data Visualization Drag-and-drop dashboard builder Real-time analytics OLAP and SQL support Mobile-friendly dashboards 11. Theming and UI Customization 25+ ready-made themes Theme Designer for custom skins Dark/Light mode toggle Global theming API for consistency 12. Integration with Modern .NET Apps Full support for .NET 6 & .NET 7+ Blazor Server & WASM components REST API and SignalR for real-time apps Azure-ready components Examples GridControl (WinForms/WPF/ASP.NET) gridControl.DataSource = dataTable; gridView.OptionsBehavior.Editable = false; gridView.Columns["Price"].DisplayFormat.FormatType = FormatType.Numeric; ChartControl (WinForms/Blazor) chart.Series.Add(new Series("Sales", ViewType.Bar)); RichEditControl Word-like document editor Supports DOCX, RTF, HTML DockManager Create modern IDE-style layouts with dockable panels Benefits of Using DevExpress Controls Rapid Application Development (RAD) Use ready-made controls to prototype and build apps quickly. Enterprise-Grade Quality DevExpress products are battle-tested in large-scale enterprise environments, ensuring stability and support. Continuous Updates and Support DevExpress offers regular updates and excellent documentation with a large community and enterprise-level support. Accessibility and Localization Full support for RTL, WCAG, Section 508, and multilingual apps. DevExpress vs. Other UI Control Libraries Real-World Use Cases Finance & Banking Create data-heavy dashboards and real-time reporting tools with DevExpress WinForms or Blazor controls. Use DevExpress Pivot Grids and Dashboards to create real-time analytics for trading platforms and financial forecasting tools. Healthcare Systems Use DevExpress scheduling and data entry components to build secure and user-friendly medical apps. Calendar controls and data input validation streamline patient scheduling and electronic medical record (EMR) applications. E-Commerce Platforms Leverage charting, filtering, and responsive layouts for performance-heavy catalog apps. Data grids with filter, sort, and paging features provide seamless inventory and customer management capabilities. SaaS Applications Leverage DevExpress charting and dashboard components to create subscription-based analytics platforms for clients. How to Get Started with DevExpress Visit devexpress.com Download the free trial or purchase a license Install the DevExpress Visual Studio Extension Explore sample projects and templates Use the Control Toolbox to drag-and-drop components Customize controls through the designer or C# code Configure Properties and bind your data Deploy your application with confidence Best Practices for Working with DevExpress Use ViewModels (MVVM) or Controller Services (MVC) for clean architecture Optimize performance with virtualization and lazy loading Group, filter, and paginate large datasets using the GridControl API Use the Theme Designer for consistent branding Choose the right data source provider Leverage async programming for responsiveness Utilize themes and skins to ensure consistent branding Cache dashboard data where possible Follow accessibility and localization best practices Why Choose DevExpress? Fast development cycles with pre-built, customizable components Seamless Visual Studio integration Consistent UI/UX across platforms Responsive design and mobile-ready World-class documentation and support Performance Optimization Tips Use virtualization for large data grids Enable async data loading Avoid unnecessary bindings Utilize caching for reports and dashboards Defer loading hidden components Licensing and Pricing DevExpress licensing includes: Annual subscription All platform access in Universal Subscription Free trial available Volume discounts for teams Pro Tip: For enterprise use, the DevExpress Universal License offers the best ROI. Common Developer Mistakes to Avoid Overusing synchronous data loading Ignoring mobile responsiveness Not using ViewModels for data binding Over-customizing built-in themes (stick to Theme Designer) Forgetting to test control performance with production-size data Powered by MagnusMinds IT Solution At MagnusMinds, we empower global clients by developing high-performance enterprise applications using DevExpress Controls. Our skilled developers focus on UI customization, complex reporting integrations, and delivering scalable, user-friendly, business-driven solutions. Specializing in .NET development, we utilize DevExpress to create elegant, robust applications, including reporting dashboards, management systems, and mobile-first web platforms to meet diverse client needs. Data-rich dashboards Real-time reporting apps Intuitive scheduling systems Cross-platform mobile solutions Customize DevExpress controls to suit your UI/UX Optimize performance for large-scale deployments Integrate third-party systems like Azure, REST APIs, Power BI Deliver pixel-perfect, responsive, and maintainable applications Whether you're a startup or a global enterprise, hiring DevExpress developers from MagnusMinds ensures your project is handled with precision, performance, and scalability in mind. Looking to integrate DevExpress in your project? Let our experts help you build blazing-fast applications using the best tools in the .NET ecosystem. Contact us today! Conclusion DevExpress Controls provide modern developers with all necessary tools for creating fast, responsive, and feature-rich applications. Suitable for both solo developers and large teams, integrating DevExpress enhances development speed, app quality, and user satisfaction. This toolkit comprises more than just UI components; it is a complete ecosystem enabling visually stunning, responsive applications across desktop, web, and mobile platforms. DevExpress ensures flexibility, performance, and support, making it essential for success in today’s software industry. It includes high-performance grids, interactive charts, and robust reporting, accelerating development while improving design and scalability. For developers focused on building next-gen .NET applications, DevExpress is indispensable, and MagnusMinds can be a trusted development partner. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Is DevExpress free to use? No, DevExpress is a premium product, though it offers a free trial for evaluation. Which platforms are supported by DevExpress? DevExpress supports .NET (WinForms, WPF), ASP.NET, Blazor, Xamarin, and .NET MAUI (upcoming). Can DevExpress controls be customized? Yes, extensively. DevExpress provides built-in theming and custom control templates. Is DevExpress better than Telerik or Syncfusion? It depends on your needs. DevExpress excels in reporting, data grids, and desktop development, making it ideal for enterprise apps. Is DevExpress suitable for enterprise applications? Yes. DevExpress is widely used in banking, healthcare, logistics, and other enterprise-grade industries. Can DevExpress be integrated with .NET MAUI? Currently, DevExpress is developing support for MAUI, and it’s expected to roll out with newer versions of .NET. Is DevExpress better for desktop or web development? DevExpress is equally powerful in both spaces—WinForms/WPF for desktop, Blazor/ASP.NET for web. Does DevExpress support responsive design? Yes. Especially with Blazor and ASP.NET Core controls, DevExpress fully supports responsive and mobile-first design. Does DevExpress work with .NET Core? Yes. It supports .NET Core, .NET 5, .NET 6, and .NET 7+. Can I use DevExpress with Blazor? Yes. DevExpress has native Blazor Server and WASM components.
As .NET 6.0 approaches its end-of-support date, it’s time for developers and businesses to consider upgrading to stay on the cutting edge and ensure that applications remain secure, efficient, and compliant. With the upcoming .NET 8 offering new features and performance boosts, an upgrade promises more than just continued support—it’s an opportunity to leverage a new generation of improvements. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the upgrade process, highlighting the critical changes you’ll need to make to ensure a smooth transition from .NET 6.0. Why Does upgrade is needed from .Net6.0? End of Support and Security Risks .NET 6.0, as a Long-Term Support (LTS) version, provided stability and support, but its support period is ending. Staying on an unsupported version exposes applications to security vulnerabilities and compliance risks, making an upgrade essential for data protection and system integrity. Access to Enhanced Features and Improvements Newer .NET versions bring valuable features like better performance optimizations, productivity tools, and cloud-native support. Upgrading unlocks these advancements, helping applications run faster and utilize fewer resources. Improved Developer Productivity .NET 7 and .NET 8 include new language features, such as enhanced pattern matching and streamlined lambda expressions in C#, which simplify code and reduce boilerplate. These additions help developers write code more quickly and with fewer errors. Reduced Operational Costs Performance improvements in .NET 7 and .NET 8 mean that applications can often perform better with fewer resources. This reduction in memory and CPU usage can translate to lower costs, especially for cloud-hosted applications. Compatibility with Modern Tools and Libraries Many popular third-party libraries and tools adopt newer .NET versions quickly, ensuring compatibility and stability. Staying up-to-date with .NET versions helps maintain compatibility with these tools, avoiding potential issues with outdated dependencies. Preparing for Future Technology As Microsoft continues to evolve .NET, each version brings it closer to the needs of modern workloads, such as machine learning, cloud computing, and IoT. Upgrading ensures that applications remain ready for future tech innovations and integrate easily with emerging solutions. These improvements make upgrading to .NET 8 essential for any business looking to stay competitive and secure in today’s fast-paced digital world. Action Plan for .NET 6 Users: Steps to Upgrade to .NET 8 Upgrading from .NET 6 to .NET 8 requires a structured approach to ensure application stability and compatibility. Follow this action plan to make your migration process smooth and efficient. 1. Prioritize Upgrading to .NET 8 Since .NET 8 is the newest LTS release, it’s vital to prioritize upgrading business-critical applications first. Applications managing sensitive data, high user traffic, or core operations will benefit most from .NET 8’s security patches and performance improvements. 2. Evaluate Your Applications for Compatibility Conduct a thorough audit of your applications to identify any potential compatibility issues. Here’s what to focus on: Dependency Audit: Ensure that third-party libraries, plugins, and tools are compatible with .NET 8. Update or replace any that are not supported. Database and ORM Compatibility: If you’re using ORMs like Entity Framework, verify their compatibility with .NET 8 and prepare for any required schema migrations. Code Review for Deprecated APIs: Review your code for deprecated APIs and replace or refactor any incompatible code. Microsoft’s .NET 8 upgrade documentation highlights specific API changes and deprecations to consider. 3. Use the .NET Upgrade Assistant Tool Microsoft’s .NET Upgrade Assistant is designed to streamline the migration process, especially for complex or large projects. It helps automate and identify critical changes needed for a successful upgrade: Flags deprecated APIs and unsupported code. Automates refactoring for .NET 8 compatibility. Provides guidance on manual changes necessary to complete the transition. This tool saves significant time, particularly for enterprise applications with complex dependencies and workflows. 4. Thoroughly Test Your Upgraded Application Testing is essential to ensure that your application performs correctly after the upgrade. Here’s a recommended testing approach: Automated Unit Testing: Run unit tests on your upgraded code to verify core functionality. Add or update tests to cover modified areas. Integration Testing: Validate that services or components work correctly together in .NET 8. Load and Performance Testing: Test under real-world conditions to validate .NET 8’s performance benefits and catch any potential bottlenecks. User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Conduct UAT to confirm that your end-users experience expected functionality, especially if significant code or API changes have been made. Common Troubleshooting for .NET 8 Migration Here are some common issues developers encounter during migration and how to resolve them. 1. Continuous Integration Challenges with Azure DevOps Upgrading applications within CI/CD environments like Azure DevOps can present challenges. Here’s how to address some common issues: Pipeline Configuration: Update Azure DevOps pipelines to reference .NET 8 SDKs. Modify YAML files or pipeline configurations to install .NET 8 before the build, ensuring dependencies are correctly aligned. NuGet Feed Compatibility: Verify that NuGet feeds are compatible with .NET 8 packages. Update outdated or incompatible packages to avoid build errors. Validate CI Tests: Re-run automated tests in Azure DevOps pipelines to catch compatibility issues before deploying to production. 2. Problem Management on Azure App Service Deploying upgraded applications on Azure App Service may lead to configuration or compatibility issues. Here’s how to manage these effectively: Set Runtime Stack to .NET 8: In the Azure Portal, navigate to App Service Settings > Configuration > Stack Settings and select .NET 8 as the runtime stack. Diagnostic Log Analysis: Check the App Service diagnostic logs for code incompatibility, runtime errors, or dependency conflicts. Enable detailed error messages to troubleshoot effectively. Leverage Azure Application Insights: Use Application Insights to monitor performance, track errors, and get real-time insights into application health, which helps identify optimization areas post-upgrade. Need Help with Your Upgrade? Connect with Magnusminds If you need assistance with your migration or encounter complex issues, Magnusminds offers expert support for .NET upgrades. out team provides tailored solutions for migration, implementation of new features, and troubleshooting specific to your application needs.
Before diving into optimization techniques, it’s important to identify the areas of your code that require improvement. By measuring and profiling your application’s performance, you can pinpoint the exact bottlenecks and focus your optimization efforts where they matter the most (Measure and Identify Bottlenecks). In this blog, I’ll explain effective strategies for handling memory and reducing garbage collection overhead in your C# applications. Memory management and garbage collection are essential aspects of performance tuning in C#, so these best practices will help you optimize your code for maximum efficiency. Here are 8 tips that will help with performance optimization. 1. Use the IDisposable interface : Utilizing the IDisposable interface is a crucial C# performance tip. It helps you properly manage unmanaged resources and ensures that your application’s memory usage is efficient. Bad way: public class ResourceHolder { private Stream _stream; public ResourceHolder(string filePath) { _stream = File.OpenRead(filePath); } // Missing: IDisposable implementation } Good way: public class ResourceHolder : IDisposable { private Stream _stream; public ResourceHolder(string filePath) { _stream = File.OpenRead(filePath); } public void Dispose() { _stream?.Dispose(); // Properly disposing the unmanaged resource. } } By implementing the IDisposable interface, you ensure that unmanaged resources will be released when no longer needed, preventing memory leaks and reducing pressure on the garbage collector. This is a fundamental code optimization technique in C# that developers should utilize. 2. Asynchronous Programming with async/await Asynchronous programming is a powerful technique for improving C# performance in I/O-bound operations, allowing you to enhance your app’s responsiveness and efficiency. Here, we’ll explore some best practices for async/await in C#. Limit the number of concurrent operations Bad way: public async Task ProcessManyItems(List<string> items) { var tasks = items.Select(async item => await ProcessItem(item)); await Task.WhenAll(tasks); } Good way: public async Task ProcessManyItems(List<string> items, int maxConcurrency = 10) { using (var semaphore = new SemaphoreSlim(maxConcurrency)) { var tasks = items.Select(async item => { await semaphore.WaitAsync(); // Limit concurrency by waiting for the semaphore. try { await ProcessItem(item); } finally { semaphore.Release(); // Release the semaphore to allow other operations. } }); await Task.WhenAll(tasks); } } Without limiting concurrency, many tasks will run simultaneously, which can lead to heavy load and degraded overall performance. Instead, use a SemaphoreSlim to control the number of concurrent operations. 3. UseConfigureAwait(false) when possible ConfigureAwait(false) is a valuable C# performance trick that can help prevent deadlocks in your async code and improve efficiency by not forcing continuations to run on the original synchronization context. public async Task<string> DataAsync() { var data = await ReadDataAsync().ConfigureAwait(false); // Use ConfigureAwait(false) to avoid potential deadlocks. return ProcessData(data); } 4. Parallel Computing and Task Parallel Library This will help the power of multicore processors and speed up CPU-bound operations Bad way: private void Data(List<int> data) { for (int i = 0; i < data.Count; i++) { PerformExpensiveOperation(data[i]); } } Good way: private void Data(List<int> data) { Parallel.ForEach(data, item => PerformExpensiveOperation(item)); } Parallel loops can considerably accelerate processing of large collections by distributing the workload among multiple CPU cores. Switch from regular for and foreach loops to their parallel counterparts whenever it’s feasible and safe. 5. Importance of Caching Data Utilizing in-memory caching can drastically reduce time-consuming database fetches and speed up your application. The good way demonstrates the use of in-memory caching to store product data and reduce time-consuming database fetches. 6. Optimizing LINQ Performance Force immediate execution using ToList() or ToArray() when needed. Use the AsParallel() extension method to ensure safety and parallelism. Selecting a HashSet instead of a List offers faster look-up times and greater performance 7. Task and ValueTask for reusing asynchronous code Use ValueTask to reduce heap allocations public async ValueTask<string> DataAsync() { var data = await ReadFromStreamAsync(_stream); return ProcessData(data); } By switching from Task<TResult> to ValueTask<TResult>, you can reduce heap allocations and ultimately improve your C# performance 8. Use HttpClientFactory to manage HttpClient instances private readonly HttpClient _httpClient; public MyClass(HttpClient httpClient) { _httpClient = httpClient; } public async Task GetDataAsync() { var response = await _httpClient.GetAsync("http://himashu.com/data"); } This approach manages the lifetimes of your HttpClient instances more efficiently, preventing socket exhaustion. - Use null-coalescing operators (??, ??=) string datInput = NullableString() ?? "default"; - Using Span and Memory for efficient buffer management // Using Span<T> avoids additional memory allocation and copying byte[] data = GetData(); Span<byte> dataSpan = data.AsSpan(); ProcessData(dataSpan); - Use StringComparison options for efficient string comparison bool equal = string.Equals(string1, string2, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase); - Use StringBuilder over string concatenation in loops StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(); for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) { sb.AppendFormat("Iteration: {0}", i); } string result = sb.ToString(); This has been a collection of just a few things I’ve found useful for enhancing the performance of my C# .NET code. Remember that the key to successful development is a balance between code quality and performance optimizations. By employing these techniques, you’ll be able to build high-performing C# applications that deliver a seamless user experience.
Introduction In today's data-driven world, having efficient search capabilities within your application is crucial. Elasticsearch, an open-source, distributed search and analytics engine, is designed for this purpose. Coupled with Kibana, a powerful visualization tool, you can not only search through large datasets quickly but also visualize and analyze your data in real-time. This blog post will guide you through integrating Elasticsearch and Kibana into your .NET Core application, focusing on setting up efficient search capabilities. What is Elasticsearch? Elasticsearch is a search engine based on the Lucene library. It provides a distributed, multitenant-capable full-text search engine with an HTTP web interface and schema-free JSON documents. Key features include: Distributed: Elasticsearch distributes data and processing across multiple nodes, ensuring high availability and scalability. Full-text search: It offers powerful full-text search capabilities, including complex search queries. Real-time indexing and searching: Elasticsearch provides near real-time search capabilities, making it ideal for applications that require up-to-date search results. RESTful API: Elasticsearch's API is RESTful, making it easy to interact with using HTTP requests. What is Kibana? Kibana is an open-source data visualization and exploration tool designed to work with Elasticsearch. It provides a web interface for: Visualizing Elasticsearch data: Create charts, graphs, and maps to visualize your data. Exploring data: Use the Discover feature to explore your indexed data and perform searches. Creating dashboards: Combine multiple visualizations into interactive dashboards for monitoring and analysis. Real-time monitoring: Monitor your data and set up alerts for specific events or conditions. Prerequisites Before we start, ensure you have the following: Elasticsearch: Installed and running. Download from the official Elasticsearch website. Kibana: Installed and running. Download from the official Kibana website. .NET Core 6 or higher: Installed and ready for development. Lower versions of .NET Core are supported, but .NET Core 6 is the latest LTS version, supported until November 2024. .NET Core 8 is expected to be the next LTS release in November 2023, with support through November 2026. Setting Up Elasticsearch in .NET Core Step 1: Create a New .NET Core Project WebApp or API Step 2: Add Elasticsearch NuGet Packages dotnet add package Elasticsearch.Net dotnet add package NEST Step 3: Configure Elasticsearch Add Configuration: In appsettings.json, add your Elasticsearch URL: { "Elasticsearch": { "Url": "http://localhost:9200" } } Create Elasticsearch Service: Create a service to handle Elasticsearch interactions. using Elasticsearch.Net; using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration; using Nest; using System; public class ElasticsearchService { private readonly IElasticClient _elasticClient; public ElasticsearchService(IConfiguration configuration) { var settings = new ConnectionSettings(new Uri(configuration["Elasticsearch:Url"])) .DefaultIndex("default-index"); _elasticClient = new ElasticClient(settings); } public async Task IndexDocumentAsync<T>(T document) where T : class { await _elasticClient.IndexDocumentAsync(document); } public async Task<ISearchResponse<T>> SearchAsync<T>(Func<SearchDescriptor<T>, ISearchRequest> searchSelector) where T : class { return await _elasticClient.SearchAsync(searchSelector); } } Register Elasticsearch Service: Register the service in Startup.cs or Program.cs. public class Startup { public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services) { services.AddControllers(); services.AddSingleton<ElasticsearchService>(); } public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IWebHostEnvironment env) { if (env.IsDevelopment()) { app.UseDeveloperExceptionPage(); } app.UseRouting(); app.UseEndpoints(endpoints => { endpoints.MapControllers(); }); } } Use Elasticsearch in Controllers: Create a controller to interact with Elasticsearch. using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc; using System.Threading.Tasks; [ApiController] [Route("[controller]")] public class SearchController : ControllerBase { private readonly ElasticsearchService _elasticsearchService; public SearchController(ElasticsearchService elasticsearchService) { _elasticsearchService = elasticsearchService; } [HttpPost("index")] public async Task<IActionResult> IndexDocument([FromBody] object document) { await _elasticsearchService.IndexDocumentAsync(document); return Ok(); } [HttpGet("search")] public async Task<IActionResult> Search(string query) { var response = await _elasticsearchService.SearchAsync<object>(s => s .Query(q => q .QueryString(d => d .Query(query) ) ) ); return Ok(response.Documents); } } Step 4: Index Existing Data If you have existing data in your database, you'll need to index it into Elasticsearch. Create a Data Indexing Service: using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration; using Nest; using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Threading.Tasks; public class DataIndexingService { private readonly IElasticClient _elasticClient; public DataIndexingService(IConfiguration configuration) { var settings = new ConnectionSettings(new Uri(configuration["Elasticsearch:Url"])) .DefaultIndex("your-index-name"); _elasticClient = new ElasticClient(settings); } public async Task IndexDataAsync<T>(IEnumerable<T> data) where T : class { var bulkDescriptor = new BulkDescriptor(); foreach (var item in data) { bulkDescriptor.Index<T>(op => op .Document(item) ); } var response = await _elasticClient.BulkAsync(bulkDescriptor); if (response.Errors) { throw new Exception("Failed to index some documents"); } } } Load Existing Data: Fetch data from your database. using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Threading.Tasks; using Dapper; using Microsoft.Data.SqlClient; public class DatabaseService { private readonly string _connectionString; public DatabaseService(string connectionString) { _connectionString = connectionString; } public async Task<IEnumerable<YourDataType>> GetExistingDataAsync() { using (var connection = new SqlConnection(_connectionString)) { var query = "SELECT * FROM YourTable"; var data = await connection.QueryAsync<YourDataType>(query); return data; } } } Index Existing Data: In Startup.cs or Program.cs, index your existing data at startup. public class Startup { public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services) { services.AddSingleton<DatabaseService>(sp => new DatabaseService("YourConnectionString")); services.AddSingleton<DataIndexingService>(); services.AddControllers(); } public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IWebHostEnvironment env, DatabaseService databaseService, DataIndexingService dataIndexingService) { // Index existing data at startup Task.Run(async () => { var existingData = await databaseService.GetExistingDataAsync(); await dataIndexingService.IndexDataAsync(existingData); }).GetAwaiter().GetResult(); if (env.IsDevelopment()) { app.UseDeveloperExceptionPage(); } app.UseRouting(); app.UseEndpoints(endpoints => { endpoints.MapControllers(); }); } } Step 1: Navigate to kibana.yml and Update Configurations Open Command Prompt (cmd): Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter. Navigate to the Kibana Directory: Use the cd command to navigate to the directory where Kibana is installed. For example: cd C:\path\to\kibana\config Edit kibana.yml: Open kibana.yml in a text editor. You can use notepad from the command line: notepad kibana.yml Update the Configuration: In the kibana.yml file, set the elasticsearch.hosts property to point to your Elasticsearch instance: elasticsearch.hosts: ["http://localhost:9200"] Save and close kibana.yml. Step 2: Run elasticsearch.bat and kibana.bat Using Command Prompt Open a New Command Prompt (cmd) Window for Elasticsearch: Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter. Navigate to the Elasticsearch bin Directory: Use the cd command to navigate to the directory where Elasticsearch is installed. For example: cd C:\path\to\elasticsearch\bin Run elasticsearch.bat: Start Elasticsearch by running: elasticsearch.bat Open Another Command Prompt (cmd) Window for Kibana: Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter. Navigate to the Kibana bin Directory: Use the cd command to navigate to the directory where Kibana is installed. For example: cd C:\path\to\kibana\bin Run kibana.bat: Start Kibana by running: kibana.bat Step 3: Set the Password for Default User elastic Open a New Command Prompt (cmd) Window: Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter. Navigate to the Elasticsearch bin Directory: Use the cd command to navigate to the directory where Elasticsearch is installed. For example: cd C:\path\to\elasticsearch\bin Set the Password for the elastic User: Use the elasticsearch-users tool to set the password. Run the following command: elasticsearch-users userpasswd elastic You will be prompted to enter a new password for the elastic user. Verification Verify Elasticsearch and Kibana: Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:9200 to check if Elasticsearch is running. Navigate to http://localhost:5601 to check if Kibana is running. Log in to Kibana: Use the elastic user and the password you set to log in to Kibana. Exploring Data with Kibana Kibana provides a web interface to visualize and explore your Elasticsearch data. After indexing your data, follow these steps: Step 1: Access Kibana Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:5601. Step 2: Configure Index Pattern Go to Management > Kibana > Index Patterns. Create a new index pattern matching your indices, e.g., your-index-name-*. Step 3: Visualize Data Use the Discover tab to explore your indexed data and perform searches. Create visualizations using the Visualize tab: Choose a visualization type (e.g., bar chart, pie chart, line graph). Configure the data source and settings. Save the visualization. Step 4: Create Dashboards Combine multiple visualizations into interactive dashboards: Go to the Dashboard tab. Create a new dashboard. Add saved visualizations and arrange them as needed. Save the dashboard. Step 5: Real-Time Monitoring Set up real-time monitoring and alerts: Use the Monitoring feature to track the health and performance of your Elasticsearch cluster. Set up Watchers in Kibana to trigger alerts based on specific conditions. Refer to the image below, which show the amount of data in the table Conclusion Integrating Elasticsearch and Kibana with your .NET Core application provides powerful search and visualization capabilities. With Elasticsearch, you can efficiently search through large datasets, and Kibana allows you to visualize and explore this data in real-time. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can enhance your application's search functionality and gain valuable insights from your data.