Running Async Code in C# Console Applications: A Practical Guide
C#'s async/await
pattern simplifies asynchronous programming, but integrating it into console applications poses a challenge. The traditional static void Main()
method can't be marked as async
, leading to compiler errors when attempting to use await
directly.
Workaround Strategies:
-
Separate Async Method: Encapsulate asynchronous operations within a separate method marked as
async
. Then, invoke this method fromMain()
using.GetAwaiter().GetResult()
to execute it synchronously. This approach ensures exceptions are unwrapped properly, avoiding theAggregateException
that occurs with.Result
or.Wait()
. -
Async Main (C# 7.1 and Later): Starting with C# 7.1, you can define the entry point as
static async Task Main()
, allowing the use ofawait
directly withinMain()
. This modernizes the approach and simplifies asynchronous code execution in console applications.
For a detailed explanation and code examples see Async/await in a console application.
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