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.NET Core Overview

Guide on Main Updates of .NET Core

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.NET Core is a cross-platform development environment. Professional developers use it to create high-performance and scalable applications. As you know, .NET Core has become the number one choice for programmers. The NET.Core is popular because of its support for various OS. It includes better tooling for web, mobile, and cloud development. Please, contact .NET migration services experts if you need to switch to this platform. 

What is .NET Core?

.NETCore is a cross-platform, modular development environment from Microsoft. .NET Core helps developers create applications with high performance. It supports the development of applications on different operating systems. Let’s see a brief history of .NET Core versions.

  • .NET Core 1.0. was released in June 2016.
  • .NET Core 2.0 was released in August 2017.
  • .NET Core 3.1 (LTS) was released in December 2019.
  • .NET 5, which combined .NET Core and .NET Framework under a single .NET brand was released in November 2020.
  • .NET 6 (LTS) was released in November 2021.
  • .NET 7 was released in November 2022.
  • .NET 8 (LTS) – the current version was released in November 2023.

The main goal of .NET Core is to create a flexible open-source platform with support for various OS. 

.NET Core Versions

.NET Core has come a long way since its release in 2016. The next version got a .NET 5 (without “Core”) name right after the release of .NET Core 3.1. This happened because .NET 5 merged the previously separate .NET Core and .NET Framework. These modifications created a single platform for application development. What is .NET Core latest version? Let’s review it and the major previous versions in the table below:

VersionFeatures
.NET Core 1.0First cross-platform version, CLI support
.NET Core 2.0Extended API support, performance improvements
.NET Core 2.1.NET Core LTS, improved container handling
.NET Core 2.2Support for Health Checks, improvements in ASP.NET Core
.NET Core 3.0Windows Forms and WPF support, the introduction of gRPC
.NET Core 3.1LTS, Visual Studio 2019 support
.NET 5The .NET Core and .NET Framework combination, improved performance
.NET 6Single platform, improved capabilities for cloud and web applications
.NET 7Increase productivity, improve cloud development
.NET 8Improvements for cloud and microservice applications, new APIs

All new .NET versions bring performance improvements, features, and capabilities for cross-platform development.

.NET Core Characteristics

.NET Core is a powerful platform for application development. It offers many benefits for developers, such as high performance, integration with cloud services and others. The platform provides high performance and ease of use. Let’s take a look at some .NET Core features below:

  • The platform supports application development on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This allows developers to create modern applications that can run on any platform.
  • The platform ensures high performance. NET.Core uses modern algorithms that help developers work on applications efficiently.
  • NET.Core has a modular architecture. Thus, developers can use all the necessary components for their applications. Applications become more optimized due to modularity.
  • .NET Core is an open-source project. Developers can freely use the platform and enhance its security. 
  • The platform works well with Docker container technologies. Thus, it is easier for developers to manage applications in cloud environments.
  • The platform supports C#, F#, and Visual Basic.
  • .NET Core integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Azure. Cloud services allow developers to build scalable applications.
  • The platform is ideal for microservices development. 
  • NET Core has a rich ecosystem of libraries that speed up the process of building applications.

The shared list introduces all the essential features that make .NET Core a great choice for developers. 

The .NET Core Platform

The .NET Core platform consists of several major components. They play an important role in application development. Let’s take a closer look at them:

  • .NET Runtime. This function is responsible for application code. This component manages memory, executes code, and handles exceptions. These features ensure that applications use the correct versions of libraries and are protected from threats. .NET Runtime controls various aspects of the application and is the core of all .NET applications.
  • Fundamental libraries. This function helps with files, collections, and string handling. Such libraries include System.Collections, System.IO, and System.Net.
  • SDK & Compiler. The Software Development Kit offers developers the tools and libraries they need to develop applications on .NET Core. The compiler converts source code in C# and F# into executable code. This code can already be executed in the .NET Runtime.
  • ‘dotnet’ app host. Developers can use this command line tool to run .NET Core applications. This tool allows you to manage projects, install packages, and perform other basic development tasks.

These components form the very .NET Core which is hugely popular among developers. .NET Core has gained popularity due to its ability to create scalable applications for different platforms and modern technologies. 

.NET Core vs .NET Framework

.NET Core vs .NET Framework are two different application development platforms. Each of them has its own features and application areas. What is NET Core and what is .NET Framework? Let’s and take a closer look at each of the platforms:

  • .NET Core suits best for cross-platform development. Here developers can create applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is a single .NET platform that replaced .NET Standard and .NET Framework. .NET Core is open source and supports containerization and microservices.
  • .NET Framework is a platform exclusively for Windows. This system develops desktop and server applications that run only on this operating system. This platform provides developers with many libraries and tools. All of them facilitate the development of Windows applications.

You should choose a platform based on the purpose for which you create your application. Fairly evaluate the project and its possible risks of your project to choose the platform with the best performance. Be sure that both platforms will provide you with a pleasant user experience. 

.NET Framework to .NET Core Migration

Softacom can help developers with the migration of legacy .NET Framework applications to the current version of .NET Core. Migrating will improve application performance and security. Also, migrating from .NET Framework to .NET Core will open access to modern platform features. The Softacom specialists guarantee an efficient migration taking into account all the peculiarities of your project. Don’t miss the opportunity to optimize your workflows and develop better applications.

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