Let's Build It: URL Shortener in .NET
Learn how to build a production-ready URL Shortener from conception to deployment.
From Code to Production: The Missing Playbook
Let's be honest - writing code is the easy part.
But turning that code into a real-world, production-ready app that handles auth, scaling, security, and monitoring? That's where most developers get stuck.
I've seen countless talented coders who can build amazing features but freeze when asked about deployment pipelines or infrastructure management.
You're comfortable with coding features, but when it comes to the full delivery pipeline - from infrastructure to deployment to production monitoring - there's a big knowledge gap.
This gap is holding you back from shipping complete solutions and taking ownership of entire projects at work.
What you'll learn
- Master system design and architecture for scalable applications
- Implement CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions
- Deploy infrastructure as code using Azure Bicep
- Build secure authentication with Microsoft Entra ID
- Optimize performance with Redis caching and CosmosDB
- Monitor applications using OpenTelemetry and Health Checks
- Secure your network with Azure Front Door and WAF
Here's the deal with building real production apps
Imagine if you could:
- Confidently take a project from idea to production deployment
- Set up proper authentication, security, and monitoring
- Build infrastructure that scales and doesn't fall over
- Implement best practices for deployment and continuous integration
- Become the go-to person for end-to-end solution delivery on your team
This isn't fantasy. This is what you'll learn to build in this course.
What you'll learn in this massive hands-on project
I'm not going to waste your time with theory. We're building a complete URL shortener system together - the exact same way I'd build it for a real client.
We'll cover:
- Requirements analysis (what are we actually building?)
- System design (architecture that won't break under load)
- Setting up proper CI/CD pipelines (automated deployment that works)
- Infrastructure as code (because manual configuration is for amateurs)
- Secrets management (no more credentials in your GitHub repos)
- Authentication with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD)
- Performance optimization with Redis caching
- Telemetry with OpenTelemetry (see exactly what's happening in production)
- Network security (lock it down tight)
By the end, you'll have built a production-grade URL shortener with a web frontend, API backend, database storage, and all the security and monitoring systems real apps need.
You'll have the skills to confidently lead projects from conception to production, making you more valuable to your team and organization. No more being just "the code person" - you'll be the engineer who can deliver complete solutions.