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containerize-aspnet-framework

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Containerize an ASP.NET .NET Framework project by creating Dockerfile and .dockerfile files customized for the project.

Backend & APIs

What this skill does


# ASP.NET .NET Framework Containerization Prompt

Containerize the ASP.NET (.NET Framework) project specified in the containerization settings below, focusing **exclusively** on changes required for the application to run in a Windows Docker container. Containerization should consider all settings specified here.

**REMEMBER:** This is a .NET Framework application, not .NET Core. The containerization process will be different from that of a .NET Core application.

## Containerization Settings

This section of the prompt contains the specific settings and configurations required for containerizing the ASP.NET (.NET Framework) application. Prior to running this prompt, ensure that the settings are filled out with the necessary information. Note that in many cases, only the first few settings are required. Later settings can be left as defaults if they do not apply to the project being containerized.

Any settings that are not specified will be set to default values. The default values are provided in `[square brackets]`.

### Basic Project Information
1. Project to containerize: 
   - `[ProjectName (provide path to .csproj file)]`

2. Windows Server SKU to use:
   - `[Windows Server Core (Default) or Windows Server Full]`

3. Windows Server version to use:
   - `[2022, 2019, or 2016 (Default 2022)]`

4. Custom base image for the build stage of the Docker image ("None" to use standard Microsoft base image):
   - `[Specify base image to use for build stage (Default None)]`

5. Custom base image for the run stage of the Docker image ("None" to use standard Microsoft base image):
   - `[Specify base image to use for run stage (Default None)]`   

### Container Configuration
1. Ports that must be exposed in the container image:
   - Primary HTTP port: `[e.g., 80]`
   - Additional ports: `[List any additional ports, or "None"]`

2. User account the container should run as:
   - `[User account, or default to "ContainerUser"]`

3. IIS settings that must be configured in the container image:
   - `[List any specific IIS settings, or "None"]`

### Build configuration
1. Custom build steps that must be performed before building the container image:
   - `[List any specific build steps, or "None"]`

2. Custom build steps that must be performed after building the container image:
   - `[List any specific build steps, or "None"]`

### Dependencies
1. .NET assemblies that should be registered in the GAC in the container image:
   - `[Assembly name and version, or "None"]`

2. MSIs that must be copied to the container image and installed:
   - `[MSI names and versions, or "None"]`

3. COM components that must be registered in the container image:
   - `[COM component names, or "None"]`

### System Configuration
1. Registry keys and values that must be added to the container image:
   - `[Registry paths and values, or "None"]`

2. Environment variables that must be set in the container image:
   - `[Variable names and values, or "Use defaults"]`

3. Windows Server roles and features that must be installed in the container image:
   - `[Role/feature names, or "None"]`

### File System
1. Files/directories that need to be copied to the container image:
   - `[Paths relative to project root, or "None"]`
   - Target location in container: `[Container paths, or "Not applicable"]`

2. Files/directories to exclude from containerization:
   - `[Paths to exclude, or "None"]`

### .dockerignore Configuration
1. Patterns to include in the `.dockerignore` file (.dockerignore will already have common defaults; these are additional patterns):
   - Additional patterns: `[List any additional patterns, or "None"]`

### Health Check Configuration
1. Health check endpoint:
   - `[Health check URL path, or "None"]`

2. Health check interval and timeout:
   - `[Interval and timeout values, or "Use defaults"]`

### Additional Instructions
1. Other instructions that must be followed to containerize the project:
   - `[Specific requirements, or "None"]`

2. Known issues to address:
   - `[Describe any known issues, or "None"]`

## Scope

- ✅ App configuration modification to ensure config builders are used to read app settings and connection strings from the environment variables
- ✅ Dockerfile creation and configuration for an ASP.NET application
- ✅ Specifying multiple stages in the Dockerfile to build/publish the application and copy the output to the final image
- ✅ Configuration of Windows container platform compatibility (Windows Server Core or Full)
- ✅ Proper handling of dependencies (GAC assemblies, MSIs, COM components)
- ❌ No infrastructure setup (assumed to be handled separately)
- ❌ No code changes beyond those required for containerization

## Execution Process

1. Review the containerization settings above to understand the containerization requirements
2. Create a `progress.md` file to track changes with check marks
3. Determine the .NET Framework version from the project's .csproj file by checking the `TargetFrameworkVersion` element
4. Select the appropriate Windows Server container image based on:
   - The .NET Framework version detected from the project
   - The Windows Server SKU specified in containerization settings (Core or Full)
   - The Windows Server version specified in containerization settings (2016, 2019, or 2022)
   - Windows Server Core tags can be found at: https://github.com/microsoft/dotnet-framework-docker/blob/main/README.aspnet.md#full-tag-listing
5. Ensure that required NuGet packages are installed. **DO NOT** install these if they are missing. If they are not installed, the user must install them manually. If they are not installed, pause executing this prompt and ask the user to install them using the Visual Studio NuGet Package Manager or Visual Studio package manager console. The following packages are required:
   - `Microsoft.Configuration.ConfigurationBuilders.Environment`
6. Modify the `web.config` file to add configuration builders section and settings to read app settings and connection strings from environment variables:
   - Add ConfigBuilders section in configSections
   - Add configBuilders section in the root
   - Configure EnvironmentConfigBuilder for both appSettings and connectionStrings
   - Example pattern:
     ```xml
     <configSections>
       <section name="configBuilders" type="System.Configuration.ConfigurationBuildersSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" restartOnExternalChanges="false" requirePermission="false" />
     </configSections>
     <configBuilders>
       <builders>
         <add name="Environment" type="Microsoft.Configuration.ConfigurationBuilders.EnvironmentConfigBuilder, Microsoft.Configuration.ConfigurationBuilders.Environment" />
       </builders>
     </configBuilders>
     <appSettings configBuilders="Environment">
       <!-- existing app settings -->
     </appSettings>
     <connectionStrings configBuilders="Environment">
       <!-- existing connection strings -->
     </connectionStrings>
     ```
7. Create a `LogMonitorConfig.json` file in the folder where the Dockerfile will be created by copying the reference `LogMonitorConfig.json` file at the end of this prompt. The file's contents **MUST NOT** not be modified and should match the reference content exactly unless instructions in containerization settings specify otherwise.
   - In particular, make sure the level of issues to be logged is not changed as using `Information` level for EventLog sources will cause unnecessary noise.
8. Create a Dockerfile in the root of the project directory to containerize the application
   - The Dockerfile should use multiple stages:
     - Build stage: Use a Windows Server Core image to build the application
       - The build stage MUST use a `mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/framework/sdk` base image unless a custom base image is specified in the settings file
       - Copy sln, csproj, and packages.config files first
       - Copy NuGet.config if one exists

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