Question 1

How to handle file uploads in Carter?

Accepted Answer

Use extensions like BindFile or BindFilesAndSave in your route handlers to bind uploaded files to parameters. For example, BindFilesAndSave automatically saves files to a specified path, reducing manual I/O code as shown in the samples.

Question 2

Carter vs ASP.NET Core Minimal APIs: which is better?

Accepted Answer

Carter is better if you need built-in validation, file upload handling, and modular routing out of the box. Stick with raw Minimal APIs for the lightest overhead when these features aren't required, as Carter adds a thin abstraction layer.

Question 3

How to implement custom validation in Carter?

Accepted Answer

Create validators using FluentValidation for your models. Carter automatically validates requests with Validate<T> extensions in route handlers, returning 422 Problem Details responses on failure, as demonstrated in the README samples.

Question 4

Does Carter support dependency injection?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Carter automatically registers its components like modules and validators into ASP.NET Core's DI container. For more control, use CarterConfigurator to manually register implementations and configure validator lifetimes.

Question 5

How to organize routes in Carter using modules?

Accepted Answer

Implement the ICarterModule interface and define routes in the AddRoutes method. Carter discovers and registers these modules automatically, promoting structured code organization similar to MVC areas but for APIs.

Question 6

Carter or MVC for building APIs?

Accepted Answer

Choose Carter for lightweight, API-focused projects on Minimal APIs, as it reduces boilerplate with validation and modular routing. Use MVC for full-stack apps with views, since Carter lacks UI tooling and server-side rendering features.

Carter

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