Global.asax Application_Start not hit after upgrade to Sitecore 8.2

Question

We noticed the Application_Start in the Global asax is no longer hit after the upgrade to Sitecore 8.2.

Does anyone have an idea what may have caused this?

My global.asax.cs:

public class Global : Sitecore.Web.Application
{
    protected void Application_Start()
    {
        // some code
    }
}

Global.asax:

<%@ Application Codebehind="Global.asax.cs" Inherits="[namespace].Global" Language="C#" %>

Edit:

In order to be sure the Application_Start is not hit I did a few tests:

• Added a System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break();
• Edited the Global.asax file while the debugger was attached
• Threw an exception

None of the above were successful.

The target framework is set to 4.6

Answer 1

It is best practice to not modify the global.asax file. Best to use the Sitecore pipelines to accomplish the same task. This allows you to follow Helix more closely and makes upgrading the site simpler.

using System.Web.Mvc;
using System.Web.Routing;
using Sitecore.Pipelines;

namespace YourApp.Pipelines.Initialize
{
    public class RegisterApiRoutes : Sitecore.Mvc.Pipelines.Loader.InitializeRoutes
    {
        public override void Process(PipelineArgs args)
        {
           // app start here
        }
    }
}

Then your config

<pipelines>
  <initialize>
    <processor type="YourApp.Pipelines.Initialize.RegisterApiRoutes, YourApp" />
  </initialize>
</pipelines>

Other Global.asax functions https://laubplusco.net/global-asax-sitecore-pipelines/

Answer 2

The Application_Start method of Sitecore.Web.Application has been made internal in 8.2 which is why you cannot override it and your method is not being hit.

internal void Application_Start(object sender, EventArgs args)
{
    ServiceLocator.MakeReadonly();
}

You will have to use the initialize pipeline as mentioned by dnstommy, which is also best practice.

Answer 3

You may need to check if your Global asax inherits from Sitecore.Web.Application

<%@ Application Codebehind="Global.asax.cs" Inherits="Sitecore.Web.Application" Language="C#" %>