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.NET Core is the new version of the .NET framework. It is an independent development platform that is free and open-source and is launched and maintained by Microsoft. It works across different platforms, and so it is a cross-platform framework that operates successfully on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Therefore, we always say that, when it comes to designing and writing enterprise-level technology, no one does it as harmoniously as Microsoft.
And so this topic is worth the discussion.
Let’s talk about .NET Core, .NET Core app, and .NET Core development. We will also discuss the latest .NET Framework updates.
Without any further ado, let’s get started!
.NET Core Overview
To understand .NET Core, we have to look at the .NET Framework.
What is the .NET Framework?
The .NET Core Framework can be used to create various types of applications such as mobile, desktop, web, cloud, IoT, ML, microservices, etc. However, there are some limitations associated with the .NET Framework.
For instance, it only works properly on the Windows platform. Plus, you need to apply different .NET APIs for distinct Windows desktop, Windows Phone, Windows Store, and Web apps.
Also, .NET Framework is a machine-wide framework, which means any type of changes made to it will affect the entire applications taking a reliance on it. In short, this is the motivation behind the .NET Core.
.NET Core is built from scratch to make it a flexible, lightweight, fast, and multi-platform framework. It comprises some prime features that are needed to run a basic .NET Core app. Through this, the .NET Core application fastens the performance, minimizes the memory footprint, and becomes uncomplicated.
Today, it’s a trend to have an application that runs across cross-platforms. Thus, there is a high requirement for a single framework that can work everywhere. And seeing this, Microsoft developed .NET Core.
The main aim of creating .NET Core is to make a .NET framework that is, open-source, cross-platform, and accordant and can be utilized in various ways, starting from the data center to touch-based devices.
.NET Core upholds C#, F#, Visual Basic.NET, and the C++/CLI languages.
.NET Core Features
.NET Core embraces the following features-
- It administers modern development standards, such as nonsimultaneous programming, no-copy patterns, and resource regimens for containers.
- Improved performance with in-built hardware, tiered compilations, and span <T>.
- In harmony with all the supported platforms.
- It contains command-line tools.
- It can be inserted into your application or installed side-by-side.
- Can be accustomed in concurrence with container deployments.
The Key Difference Between .NET and .NET Core
This is a crucial topic to be discussed. Because for a decade, the .NET Framework was the existing option for .NET.
To put it simply, developers operated the .NET Framework to design Windows desktop and server-side applications. However, when Xamarin and Mono were launched, it became possible to create a .NET Core app on Linux and smartphones.
And Microsoft soon noticed the possibilities of this project, and they developed .NET Core.
.NET Core has two main components: A small point in time that is built from the same codebase as the .NET Framework CLR and the important base class libraries.
.NET Core came about for one simple reason- to create a genre of .NET that could run on devices that do not support Windows.
Important Characteristics Of .NET Core
It’s Completely Free and Open-Source
The entire .NET Core development platform is completely free and open-source, thus providing expert developers with a vivid playground where they can create innovative enterprise-level applications. You can also get instructions related to the .NET Core source code on GitHub.
At present, there are more than 60,000 developers and over 4,000 companies that are contributing to the .NET ecosystem.
It is Modern
Alter to the older frameworks and applicability, the .NET Core framework was developed to solve modern needs, some of which are mobile-friendly, by building it once and implementing everywhere on all platforms for high performance.
Cross-Platform
It is a framework that operates on Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, each OS has a different runtime that implements the codes and generates the same output.
In addition to this, it is consistent across architectures, which include ×64, ×86, and ARM.
Agility
When we analyze the .NET Framework and .NET Core previous versions, this latest version is super fast. Also, it has an excellent speed juxtaposed to the current frameworks like Java Servlet and Node.js.
Lightweight and User-Friendly
The .NET Core framework is extremely light in weight; it can be added to your application or installed machine-wide, or on a server. Plus .NET Core is aptly compatible with the .NET framework and Monon APIs by using .NET Standard guidelines.
Applications of .NET Core
.NET Core is utilized in the designing of .NET Core apps on various different platforms other than Windows.
The use case of .NET Core is-
Web Applications
The primary constituent of the .NET Core is ASP.NET Core, a framework best for building websites. The ASP.NET core is the descendant of the MVC architecture and it offers common libraries to build web pages.
Mobile Applications
Xamarin provides toolkits and libraries for building cross-platform mobile applications. Programmers can design native apps for iOS, Windows, Android, and macOS on a .NET codebase with immense functionality.
Desktop Applications
.NET Core offers limitless tools and frameworks to build desktop applications. The four major pillars for building desktop applications are WPF, UWP, and Xamarin.
Cloud Apps
The demand for cloud apps has surged, with the cloud gaining attention across the IT sector.
IoT
In current times, one of the most popular domains in the IT sector is IoT. You can use .NET Core for IoT development through the UWP framework.
Games
You can use C# to build games for mobile, desktop, console, TV, AR, VR, and the web. With Unity support, one can develop astonishing games.
All of this information is good, but how do you know if you should choose .NET Core or not?
We are here to discuss this only.
You should choose .NET Core if:
- You want to develop a cross-platform application.
- You are not uneasy about shallow learning curves.
- You need faster and more extensible applications.
- You need applications that are utilized as containers.
.NET Core Configuration
The .NET Core framework consists of the following parts:
- CLI Tools: It is a set of tools for development and deployment.
- Roslyn: It is a language compiler for C# and Visual Basic.
- CoreFX: Set of framework libraries.
- CoreCLR: A JIT-based command Language Runtime.
Is.NET Core Applicable For Everyday Use?
Like any other programming language, maturity can be an issue here as well. However, experiencing how the.NET Core is an outgrowth of the older .NET Framework, it has seen a new level of maturity.
And knowing that C# is often considered the most popular programming language, it should be evident that .NET Core’s present is bright and so is its future.
FYI, many big enterprises are currently using.NET Core, like- Facebook, Twitter, Discovery Channel, Coldwell Banker, Alibaba Travel, Cubic Telecom, and Nopcommerce.com
Conclusion
By now, we have attained a good knowledge of the .NET Core and what is .NET Framework.
One thing is clear, modern-day demands for modern technology and advanced programming languages.
Dot NET Core is the new version of Microsoft’s .NET Framework. The .NET framework was designed with the motive to let programmers develop programs that are operative on Microsoft’s Windows and.NET Core is built from scrape to make it a lightweight, fast, and multi-platform framework. There are a few applications and microservices that require a powerful experienced framework to support them in the background. And in such cases, .NET Core can fulfill all those demands.
At Extern Lab, We offer specialized ASP.NET Core development services. We achieve each and every task, starting from the analysis to the design, implementation, and incorporation of systems.
So, if you are contemplating relocating your current projects to .NET Core, drop us a call and our team will discuss what it will take to employ a .NET Core team for your project.
