The dotnet/eshop repository is a reference .NET application that demonstrates how to build an e-commerce website using a services-based architecture. Known as the "AdventureWorks" reference application, it showcases modern .NET development practices by implementing a complete eCommerce platform with multiple microservices coordinated through .NET Aspire, Microsoft's cloud-native application framework. The repository is built on .NET 9 and serves as an educational resource for developers learning how to structure distributed systems using contemporary .NET technologies.
The application implements a microservices architecture where different business domains are separated into independent services. The repository includes a Catalog API that manages product information, with sample data defined in a catalog.json file containing fictional product names, descriptions, and brand information generated using GPT-35-Turbo. Product images were generated using DALL-E 3, demonstrating integration with Azure OpenAI services. The architecture is designed to run in containerized environments using Docker and Kubernetes, making it suitable for cloud-native deployments.
The project provides multiple pathways for developers to get started depending on their platform and tooling preferences. Windows developers using Visual Studio 2022 version 17.10 or newer can open the eShop.Web.slnf file and run the application directly through the IDE. For developers on Mac, Linux, or Windows without Visual Studio, the repository supports running via the .NET 9 SDK and Visual Studio Code with the C# Dev Kit. The setup process includes automated configuration scripts that install required dependencies, though Docker Desktop must be running to execute the application. The repository also supports deployment to Azure through the Azure Developer CLI, allowing developers to provision cloud resources and deploy the sample with minimal commands.
The repository shares contributors with dotnet/aspnetcore, microsoft/vscode, and nteract/archived-desktop-app, indicating cross-project collaboration within the .NET ecosystem.
The repository is classified across multiple domains including microservices, e-commerce, cloud-native architecture, Docker, Kubernetes, reference architecture, distributed systems, and web applications. This broad classification reflects the repository's purpose as a comprehensive reference implementation that touches multiple architectural patterns and deployment scenarios. The application demonstrates practical implementation of these patterns in a real-world e-commerce context, making it valuable for developers studying how to build scalable, distributed systems using .NET technologies.
