Deploy Blazor Websites to the Cloud with Azure Static Web Apps

Deploy Blazor Websites to the Cloud with Azure Static Web Apps

Blazor is a powerful framework that allows developers to build interactive web applications using C#. By leveraging Azure Static Web Apps, you can deploy Blazor websites to the cloud quickly and efficiently. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the benefits, key features, and step-by-step instructions for deploying Blazor applications using Azure Static Web Apps.

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Why Use Azure Static Web Apps for Blazor?

Azure Static Web Apps is a serverless web app hosting service optimized for static content and dynamic backend APIs. Here’s why it’s a perfect match for Blazor:

• Seamless Deployment: Easily integrate with GitHub or Azure DevOps for automatic builds and deployments.
• Global Distribution: Deliver content via a globally distributed Content Delivery Network (CDN) for low-latency experiences.
• Serverless APIs: Built-in integration with Azure Functions for dynamic server-side logic.
• Free SSL Certificates: Secure your Blazor site with free HTTPS out of the box.
• Custom Domains: Map your website to a custom domain effortlessly.

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Types of Blazor Applications

Blazor supports two hosting models:

1. Blazor WebAssembly (WASM): Runs client-side in the browser using WebAssembly. This model is ideal for static web apps.
2. Blazor Server: Executes server-side logic while updating the client UI in real-time using SignalR.

Azure Static Web Apps is best suited for Blazor WebAssembly applications due to its static content hosting nature.

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Key Features of Azure Static Web Apps for Blazor

• Integrated Build and Deployment: Automatically builds and deploys your Blazor app whenever changes are pushed to your repository.
• Authentication and Authorization: Supports social logins like GitHub, Facebook, and Google, or custom authentication providers.
• Customizable Routes: Fine-tune app behavior with route and error handling configurations.
• Integrated CI/CD: Continuous integration and deployment pipelines simplify version control and updates.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Deploy a Blazor Website

Prerequisites:

• An Azure account.
• A Blazor WebAssembly application ready to deploy.
• A GitHub repository containing your Blazor project.

Step 1: Create a Blazor WebAssembly App

1. Open a terminal and create a new Blazor WebAssembly app:

   dotnet new blazorwasm -o BlazorApp
   cd BlazorApp
   

2. Test the app locally:

   dotnet run
   

Step 2: Push Your Code to GitHub

1. Initialize a Git repository in your Blazor app folder:

   git init
   git add .
   git commit -m "Initial commit"
   

2. Push the code to a GitHub repository:

   git remote add origin <repository_url>
   git push -u origin main
   

Step 3: Create an Azure Static Web App

1. Log in to the Azure Portal.
2. Search for "Static Web Apps" and click Create.
3. Fill in the details:
   • Subscription: Select your Azure subscription.
   • Resource Group: Create or select an existing resource group.
   • Name: Enter a unique name for your app.
   • Region: Choose the nearest region for deployment.
   • Deployment Source: Select "GitHub" and authenticate your account.
   • Repository: Choose your repository and branch.
   • Build Presets: Select "Blazor" as the build preset.
4. Click Review + Create and then Create.

Step 4: Configure Deployment Settings

1. Azure will automatically generate a GitHub Actions workflow for continuous deployment.
2. Review the workflow file in your GitHub repository under .github/workflows.
3. Adjust settings if necessary and commit the changes.

Step 5: Verify Your Deployment

1. Once deployment is complete, Azure provides a URL for your website.
2. Open the URL in a browser to see your live Blazor app.
3. Optionally, set up a custom domain and HTTPS in the Azure portal.

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Real-World Use Case: Internal Company Dashboard

An organization uses Blazor WebAssembly to build an internal dashboard for managing employee data and project metrics. By deploying this dashboard to Azure Static Web Apps:

• Fast Loading: The dashboard is globally distributed for minimal latency.
• Secure Access: Authentication ensures only authorized employees can access the app.
• Scalability: The app can handle thousands of users without additional infrastructure management.
• Easy Updates: Continuous deployment ensures new features are live as soon as they’re pushed to the repository.

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Conclusion

Deploying Blazor websites to the cloud with Azure Static Web Apps is a straightforward and efficient process. With features like global distribution, seamless CI/CD, and serverless APIs, it’s never been easier to take your Blazor applications live.

Start deploying your Blazor apps today with Azure Static Web Apps and experience the benefits of modern cloud hosting!