Should a binary file provided by a Web API app be stored in the App_Data folder, or where?

Question

Clients will request the conditional download of a binary file from my Web API app.

The method that responds to this request will probably be something like this:

public HttpResponseMessage GetHHSetupUpdate(double clientVersion)
{
    double currentVersion = getCurrentVersion("platypiRUs");
    if (clientVersion >= currentVersion)
    {
      return null;
    }  
    var path = @"C:\Platypi\PlatypiRUs.exe";
    var stream = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Open);
    HttpResponseMessage result = new HttpResponseMessage(HttpStatusCode.OK);
    result.Content = new StreamContent(stream);
    result.Content.Headers.ContentType =
        new MediaTypeHeaderValue("application/octet-stream");
    return result;
}

What is unnerving me most at present is the location of the file, though. Should it be stored in the project's App_Data folder, or elsewhere?

If so (stored in App_Data), how is that referenced in code? Would it be like:

var path = @"\App_Data\PlatypiRUs.exe";

...or...???

Answer 1

Server.MapPath(@"~\App_Data\PlatypiRUs.exe")

alternatively, you could also use HostingEnvironment.MapPath instead.