This document summarizes the new features of ASP.NET MVC 4, which was released as a developer preview in September 2011. Key new features include enhanced support for mobile sites through new project templates and display modes, improved support for asynchronous controllers using tasks, and the ability to customize code generation through new recipes that are downloadable via NuGet. The presentation also briefly previews upcoming integration with other Microsoft technologies like Web Pages 2 and Web API, as well as the planned beta and final releases of ASP.NET MVC 4.

1. What’s new in ASP.NET MVC 4
Simone Chiaretta
Architect, Council of the EU
http://codeclimber.net.nz
Twitter: @simonech

2. Who am I?
► Simone Chiaretta
► Microsoft MVP ASP.NET
► ASP Insider
► Blogger – http://codeclimber.net.nz
► Moved to Belgium
► Contributor to various
OpenSource projects
► Runner/Climber/Triathlete
Disclaimer:"The views expressed are purely those of the speaker and may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the Council"

3. ASP.NET MVC 4 Goals
► Enhance development and deployment
► Bring together all MS Web Stack
► Better HTML5 / Mobile support
► Cloud ready

4. ASP.NET MVC 4
► New and refreshed Project Template
► Enhanced support for mobile sites
► Recipes for custom code generation
► Improved support for async controllers
► Cloud-ready

5. ASP.NET MVC 4 – Developer Preview
► Released September 2011 @ Build
► Both for .NET 4 and .NET 4.5 preview
► Downloadable with Web Platform Installer 4

6. New Project Template
► New look closer to ASP.NET website
► HTML5 by default
► Responsive Design (via media queries)
► Uses jQueryUI for the login
► Includes KnockOutJS

7. Support for Mobile Sites
► New Mobile Project Template for mobile-only
sites
► Display modes
– Views/index.cshtml
– Views/index.mobile.cshtml
► Inclusion of jQuery Mobile
► View Switcher and Browser Overriding

8. Recipes
► Custom code-generation plugins
► Downloadable via NuGet
► Still a bit undocumented
► Heavily rely on VS Extensibility

9. Recipes How-To
► Class library
► Reference
Microsoft.VisualStudio.Mvc.Extensibility.1.0.
dll
► Implement IRecipe or IFolderRecipe
► Build your own custom UI Dialog
► Package and deploy with NuGet
Or
Install Package AspNetMvc4.RecipeSdk

10. Task based Async Controllers
► Single Method Async Contollers
► No more manual handling of requests
► Returns Task<ActionResult>
MVC3
public void SyncAllAsync()
{
AsyncManager.OutstandingOperations.Increment();
MVC4
StuffService stuff = new StuffService();
stuff.StuffCompleted += (sender, e) =>
public Task<ActionResult> SyncAllAsync(){
MVC4 + C#5 (or Async CTP)
{ AsyncManager.Parameters["model"] = e.Result;
StuffService stuff = new StuffService();AsyncManager.OutstandingOperations.Decrement();
};
return stuff.DoStuffAsync()
stuff.DoStuffAsync("Some other => {
.ContinueWith(t stuff");
} return View(t.Result)
public async Task<ActionResult> SyncAllAsync()
{ });
public ActionResult SyncAllCompleted(SyncViewModel model)
}
{ StuffService stuff = new StuffService();
return View(model); stuff.DoStuffAsync());
return View(await
} }

11. Looking at the future
► Better integration with other “products”
– Web Pages 2
– ASP.NET 4.5
– Web API

12. Minification & Bundling
View
<script src=“/Scripts/js”></scripts>
Global.asax
BundleTable.Bundles.EnableDefaultBundles();

13. WCF WebAPI Preview 6
► Uses WCF syntax for web API
► Returns JSON or XML
► Extensible

14. Summary
► MVC4 introduced new mobile features, better
aync, enhanced tooling
► Current release is a Developer Preview from
BUILD (4 months ago)
► Beta coming in the next few months
► Final release in sync with next release of
Visual Studio vNext (Dev11)

15. References
► MVC 4 Main Page and Dev Preview
http://www.asp.net/mvc/mvc4
► Release Notes
http://www.asp.net/whitepapers/mvc4-release-notes
► Roadmap
http://aspnet.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=ASP.NET%20MVC%204%20RoadMap
► Phil Haack’s Mobility Talk, BUILD Sep 2011
http://channel9.msdn.com/events/BUILD/BUILD2011/TOOL-803T
► Create an MVC4 Recipe
http://haacked.com/archive/2011/09/22/writing-a-recipe-for-asp-net-
mvc-4-developer-preview.aspx
► The evolution of Async controllers in ASP.NET
MVC
http://codeclimber.net.nz/archive/2012/01/09/evolution-of-async-
controller-asp-net-mvc.aspx

16. Contacts – Simone Chiaretta
► Blog: http://codeclimber.net.nz/
► Twitter: @simonech
15

17. © 2011 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should
not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS,
IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.