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Socket.IO & Express alternative for C#?

I'm looking to see if it's possible to create an application using C# that creates a local web server and allows me to pass information from the server, to the client website.
I've been using Node.js with Express to create a local web server and then using Socket.io to pass information through to the client, to display in realtime with Javascript. Only issue is I'm more comfortable with C# and I'd like to distribute this application, with Node Modules and Electron the app is clocking in at around 150MB, it's also many files and folders as opposed to just a .exe
Details of Application:
Reads data from log files
Decodes Json inside files
Sends specific data to website
Client receives data and displays
I've managed to get halfway there by using HttpListener, but from what I understand I cant send data to it? So I figured I could edit the html before I sent it and have yet to setup the FindDivByID method
TLDR; Is there a way to create a Local Web Server (Application) that is able to send data to the Client Website.
EDIT: Thanks for the suggestion, though I'm hoping to keep it all down to one distributable application, that reads the data from the local PC, creates the web server and sends to the clients

Well, if you wanna go full C#, I'd recommend SignalR, very solid
https://www.asp.net/signalr
Alternatively, you could keep your Socket.IO server in Node.JS and use this Socket.IO C# client library to interface with it (although I never really did tried)
https://github.com/Quobject/SocketIoClientDotNet

C# WP8 Connect to MySql database

I am struggling to figure out how to connect to a MySql database in my C# Windows Phone 8 application like I can on my desktop application. The reason I am struggling is because it seems I cannot just use the same MySql.Data library that I used on my desktop application. Are there any other libraries that I can use to access my database?
PS. I really don't want to go the PHP route because I will have to have Apache running on y server two and will have to add JSON interfacing two which will not only be a hassle but possibly also waste some processing time and make my application more complex.
PPS. If not possible with MySql, can it be made to work with Microsoft SQL Server or Azure?
EDIT:
If some sort of HTTP interface is my only option, is there some easy existing API or something that I can use to allow SQL data transmission or will I have to create specific PHP(/asp.net or whatever) code for each type request that I am planning to send?

What is the best method of manipulate a MySQL database from a desktop application?

I'm developing an application that depends on sending and receiving data from a MySQL database. This is a .NET application written in C#. I already know that I could use ADO.NET to access the database directly, but I'm using a shared server so direct access to the database remotely is not allowed and a dedicated server account is just to expensive at this point in development. I was thinking about using the application to send a encrypted SQL request using php and then the server will return a encrypted XML file containing the data that was requested, but I don't know maybe that would be too slow, any suggestions?

Have you thought about SSH tunneling your requests / responses? There are SSH libraries to enable this, then use ADO.NET through the SSH tunnel?

Connecting C# Back-end with PHP frontend

I have a code written in C# I would like to use as the back-end of a site I'm building.
I would prefer not to build the site front-end in ASP.NET (which integrates nicely with C#), and to use PHP or Python instead.
Is that reasonable? Should I re-consider using ASP.NET?
How can I achieve that?

Just use asp.net mvc framework for the frontend instead of plain asp.net. It's easy to learn. And if you know php it will be easy to you undestand asp.net mvc.
I don't see the reasons if you are using c# backend use php frontend. For sure you can create service layer on c# and communicate with php through it, but it does not make sence for me.

You can do whatever you like. Personally i wouldnt use php because i dont know very much php.
But you can do it, you could expose a soap web service and there are libraries that will let php talk to it.
No one here will be able to tell you what you haven't already told us. Asp.Net will probably be easier because of how everything integrates and you can share classes etc - but that does not mean you HAVE to use it.
Both of them are fairly passive server side technologies that present html to browsers though. why do you need 2 servers?
You have to ask why you are doing it .. if you are playing and want to learn then of course you can do it just to see how it all works. But if you are on a commercial project then id suggest that you dont need both a php and a c# server ... or if you do perhaps you want to go asp.net for your web server and if you need another layer of services behind then use WCF if you want to go a microsoft route. Howver it is usually possible to host all services in the same IIs instance.

You can do this i have done this for a web site my self use a database server or files,
http://dtpgroup.co.uk/
Your C# application can connection to your store save the info it needs to then php can read them if it file just use a formatted file E.G
if your using Database php can connect to MySQL or MSSQL so your C# application can use MySQL if you know what your doing in C# if not and your more comfortable in php then use MSSQL (also php have the superior documentation )
I work in both frequently

Ugh, in normal instances, reading data with C# writing it to files and loading up with PHP sound slow, inefficient and down wright crazy. I believe these terms are being used wrongly.
Client Server - user machine - database great for private networks where you connect to the DB without going over the internet
vs n-Tier
Client - Browser programming html, css, javascript connects to middleware over the internet
Middleware - inside your firewall, connects browser to database could be called part of backend - php and C# are middleware languages
Database final (generally 3rd) tier
With php and c# you are creating multiple middleware layers
why why why would you do this for a web app pick one
now if you have a web app with PHP and sneakerware in house client server apps that are controlled ie shipping, accounting that are not exposed - maybe but you have added complexity that you would not need (generally)
Gary

C# connections to mySQL || Retrieving Data From A C# Program Via A Browser

I am building a C# program for a company that eventually will store information about newspaper articles in a data structure. The key here is that they want to be able to query this data structure via a browser remotely, so the obvious choice I suppose therefore would be using something like SQL. So I have two questions:
If I use SQL how could I store results from the C# program as it runs to the SQL database? Would this involve opening up a connection inside the program akin to the mySQL command line console?
Is there an alternate way, i.e. where I could store the data inside the C# program solely that is running on the server, and query this for results via a web browser just as I would if I were using SQL?
Many thanks for your advice

you can communicate with an SQL server with C# ... It's pretty easy, lots of examples out there.
It would be better to use an SQL server. Using an internal database will mean you will have to implement a database mechanism that will be robust against crashes. SQL already is.
You can implement it easily by using ASP.Net (For accessing with a web browser).
Or look into WCF or web services if you want to implement your own browser. WCF or web services will give you tools to create a simple-to-use API that acts as a server.