MVC 4 Web Api Controller does not have a default constructor?

Question

Here is the trace:

<Error>
   <Message>An error has occurred.</Message>

   <ExceptionMessage>
      Type 'ProjectName.Web.Api.Controllers.ContinentsController' does not have a default constructor
   </ExceptionMessage>

   <ExceptionType>System.ArgumentException</ExceptionType>

   <StackTrace>
      at System.Linq.Expressions.Expression.New(Type type)

      at System.Web.Http.Internal.TypeActivator.Create[TBase](Type instanceType)

      at System.Web.Http.Dispatcher.DefaultHttpControllerActivator.GetInstanceOrActivator(HttpRequestMessage request, Type controllerType, Func`1& activator)

      at System.Web.Http.Dispatcher.DefaultHttpControllerActivator.Create(HttpRequestMessage request, HttpControllerDescriptor controllerDescriptor, Type controllerType)
   </StackTrace>
</Error>

I find this weird as public class UsersController : ApiController { ... } is working just fine. I have compared the 2 controllers, all the settings and structures are similar.

I am using Ninject and i have my system setup similar to Jamie Kurtz Asp.Net Mvc 4 and the Web Api: Building a REST Service from Start to Finish.

From the stack trace, is anyone able to spot the problem and how to solve it? Thanks!

As Requested.

ContinentsController

[LoggingNHibernateSession]
public class ContinentsController : ApiController
{
    private readonly ISession _session;
    private readonly IContinentMapper _continentMapper;
    private readonly IHttpContinentFetcher _httpContinentFetcher;
    private readonly IDateTime _dateTime;

    public ContinentsController(ISession session, IContinentMapper continentMapper, IHttpContinentFetcher continentFetcher, IDateTime dateTime)
    {
        _session = session;
        _continentMapper = continentMapper;
        _httpContinentFetcher = continentFetcher;
        _dateTime = dateTime;
    }

    public IEnumerable<Continent> Get()
    {
        var continents = _session
            .Query<Data.Model.Continent>()
            .Select(_continentMapper.CreateContinent)
            .ToList();

        return continents;
    }

    public Continent Get(long id)
    {
        var modelContinent = _httpContinentFetcher.GetContinent(id);
        var continent = _continentMapper.CreateContinent(modelContinent);

            return continent;
        }
  }

UsersController: Works just fine.

    public class UsersController : ApiController
    {
        private readonly ISession _session;
        private readonly IUserManager _userManager;
        private readonly IUserMapper _userMapper;
        private readonly IHttpUserFetcher _userFetcher;

        public UsersController(
            IUserManager userManager,
            IUserMapper userMapper,
            IHttpUserFetcher userFetcher,
            ISession session)
        {
            _userManager = userManager;
            _userMapper = userMapper;
            _userFetcher = userFetcher;
            _session = session;
        }

        [Queryable]
        public IQueryable<Data.Model.User> Get()
        {
            return _session.Query<Data.Model.User>();
        }

        [LoggingNHibernateSession]
        public User Get(Guid id)
        {
            var user = _userFetcher.GetUser(id);
            return _userMapper.CreateUser(user);
        }
    }

I am using NinjectWebCommon.cs and in it, i have this and a few other default methods.:

        private static void RegisterServices(IKernel kernel)
        {
            var containerConfigurator = new NinjectConfigurator();
            containerConfigurator.Configure(kernel);

            GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.MessageHandlers.Add(kernel.Get<BasicAuthenticationMessageHandler>());
        }

Then i have NinjectConfigurator.cs:

public class NinjectConfigurator
{
    ......
    private void AddBindings(IKernel container)
        {
            .....
            container.Bind<IDateTime>().To<DateTimeAdapter>();
            container.Bind<IDatabaseValueParser>().To<DatabaseValueParser>();

            //HttpFetchers
            container.Bind<IHttpUserFetcher>().To<HttpUserFetcher>();
            container.Bind<IHttpContinentFetcher>().To<HttpContinentFetcher>();                                

            //TypeMappers
            container.Bind<IUserManager>().To<UserManager>();
            container.Bind<IMembershipInfoProvider>().To<MembershipAdapter>();
            container.Bind<IUserMapper>().To<UserMapper>();
            container.Bind<IContinentMapper>().To<ContinentMapper>();    
            .........
        }
     .......
}

Both NinjectWebCommon.cs and NinjectConfigurator.cs are located in the App_Start folder.

container.Bind<ISession>().ToMethod(CreateSession); is NHibernate. It is within NinjectConfigurator.cs inside private void ConfigureNHibernate(IKernel container) { ... }

Answer 1

You need to tell Ninject how to correctly resolve Web API dependencies.

You can use Felipe Oriani's answer, but if you like there is a NuGet package called WebApiContrib.IoC.Ninject which will do this for you.

1. In Visual Studio Go to: Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Manage NuGet Packages for Solution

2. Install the WebApiContrib.IoC.Ninject package

3. Edit: NinjectWebCommon.cs and update the CreateKernel() method to include: GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.DependencyResolver = new NinjectResolver(kernel);

   private static IKernel CreateKernel()
   {
       var kernel = new StandardKernel();
   
       try
       {
           kernel.Bind<Func<IKernel>>().ToMethod(ctx => () => new Bootstrapper().Kernel);
           kernel.Bind<IHttpModule>().To<HttpApplicationInitializationHttpModule>();
   
           RegisterServices(kernel);
   
           //Note: Add the line below:
           GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.DependencyResolver = new NinjectResolver(kernel);
   
           return kernel;
       }
       catch
       {
           kernel.Dispose();
           throw;
       }
   }