Run locally

You need the .NET 10 SDK, Git, and a Node.js version supported by the installed Next.js package. The commands below assume Bash and a clean checkout.

git clone https://github.com/NetCoreTemplates/next-license.git
cd next-license
cp .env.example .env
cd MyApp.Client && npm ci
cd ../MyApp && dotnet watch

Open https://localhost:5001 once the host starts. In development, ASP.NET Core proxies the Next.js dev server, so both run behind one origin. Trust the ASP.NET Core development certificate if your browser warns about it.

The server reads .env from the repository root at startup without logging its values; existing process environment variables take precedence. Restart the backend after editing it. The example values are placeholders: the storefront runs without them, but checkout needs signing and Stripe configuration.

Development accounts

Development seeds an administrator, admin@email.com / p@55wOrd, which can open the Operations Center at /admin. These accounts are created only in the Development environment; provision production administrators separately.

Database

The default is SQLite at MyApp/App_Data/app.db. EF Core manages the Identity tables and OrmLite manages the licensing tables, in the same database.

For a custom SQLite location, use a complete connection string. Always write DataSource= with no space:

ConnectionStrings__DefaultConnection=DataSource=App_Data/app.db;Cache=Shared

To use PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB or SQL Server, also set Database__Provider to postgres, mysql or sqlserver. Both ORMs follow that setting. See deployment.

An empty database is migrated automatically at startup. To run migrations explicitly:

cd MyApp
npm run migrate

While the template is unpublished there are only two baseline migrations, so you can reset a disposable development database by stopping the app and deleting app.db, app.db-wal and app.db-shm. Keep the rest of App_Data, which holds data-protection keys and the GitHub download cache.

A fresh installation has five inactive price drafts, no published license agreement and no signing key. Public pricing shows only Free until you configure and approve paid offerings.

Prove offline behavior

From the repository root:

dotnet run --project MyApp.SampleApp
dotnet run --project MyApp.SampleApp -- --desktop

The CLI prints Free, covered, uncovered and Lifetime results without contacting a server. The --desktop option opens an Avalonia window where you can paste the example keys and watch Pro turn on. Both use disposable keys generated for that run only.

Next: project tour.