.NET is a popular and versatile platform for developing software applications on various devices and platforms. However, .NET is not a single, monolithic entity, but rather a collection of different technologies and runtimes that share some common features and APIs. Two of the most prominent and widely used .NET technologies are .NET Core and .NET Framework.
In this .NET Core vs .NET Framework guide, we will compare and contrast these two technologies in terms of their features, benefits, drawbacks, use cases, and future prospects. We will also provide some tips and best practices for choosing the right .NET technology for your project.
What is .NET Core?¶
.NET Core is a cross-platform, open-source, and modular version of .NET that was introduced in 2016 to overcome some of the limitations and challenges of the .NET Framework. .NET Core is designed to be lightweight, fast, and flexible, and it supports building and running applications on Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile devices (via Xamarin). .NET Core also supports multiple programming languages, such as C#, F#, and Visual Basic, and multiple paradigms, such as MVC, Razor Pages, and Blazor.
.NET Core consists of the following components:
.NET Core Runtime:¶
This is the virtual machine that executes the .NET Core applications and manages their memory, security, and performance. The .NET Core Runtime is compatible with the .NET Standard, which is a set of APIs that define a common and consistent interface for .NET platforms.
.NET Core SDK:¶
This is the set of tools and libraries that enable developers to create, build, test, and deploy .NET Core applications. The .NET Core SDK includes the .NET CLI, which is a command-line interface for performing various tasks, such as creating projects, adding packages, running tests, and publishing applications.
ASP.NET Core:¶
This is the framework for building web applications and services with .NET Core. ASP.NET Core offers high performance, security, and productivity, and it supports multiple languages, such as C#, F#, and Visual Basic, and multiple paradigms, such as MVC, Razor Pages, and Blazor.
Entity Framework Core:¶
This is the framework for accessing and manipulating data with .NET Core. Entity Framework Core is an object-relational mapper (ORM) that enables developers and .NET development services companies to work with data using domain objects and LINQ queries, without writing much SQL code. Entity Framework Core supports various database providers, such as SQL Server, SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Oracle.
What is .NET Framework?¶
.NET Framework is the original and most widely used version of .NET, which is mainly used for building and running Windows desktop and server-based applications. .NET Framework was first released in 2002, and it has since evolved through several versions, with the latest being .NET Framework 4.8 in 2019. .NET Framework is a mature and stable platform that provides a rich set of libraries, tools, and languages that enable as for various domains and scenarios, such as web, desktop, mobile, gaming, and IoT.
.NET Framework consists of the following components:
.NET Framework Runtime:¶
This is the virtual machine that executes the .NET Framework applications and manages their memory, security, and performance. The .NET Framework Runtime is compatible with the .NET Standard, which is a set of APIs that define a common and consistent interface for .NET platforms.
.NET Framework SDK:¶
This is the set of tools and libraries that enable developers to create, build, test, and deploy .NET Framework applications. The .NET Framework SDK includes Visual Studio, which is an integrated development environment (IDE) that provides a graphical user interface for performing various tasks, such as creating projects, adding references, debugging, and publishing applications.
ASP.NET:¶
This is the framework for building web applications and services with .NET Framework. ASP.NET offers various features and options, such as Web Forms, MVC, Web API, SignalR, and Web Pages, that enable developers to create dynamic and interactive web applications.
Entity Framework:¶
This is the framework for accessing and manipulating data with .NET Framework. Entity Framework is an object-relational mapper (ORM) that enables developers to work with data using domain objects and LINQ queries, without writing much SQL code. Entity Framework supports various database providers, such as SQL Server, SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Oracle.
.NET Core Vs .NET Framework: Comparison¶
Now that we have a basic understanding of what .NET Core and .NET Framework are, let us compare them in terms of various aspects, such as:
Cross-platform support: .NET Core is cross-platform, meaning it can run on Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile devices (via Xamarin). .NET Framework is Windows-only, meaning it can only run on Windows operating systems.
Open-source: It is open-source, meaning it is developed and maintained by Microsoft and the community, and its source code is publicly available on GitHub. .NET Framework is closed-source, meaning it is controlled by Microsoft and its source code is not publicly available.
Modularity: .NET Core is modular, meaning it only requires the components that are needed by the application, resulting in smaller and faster deployments. .NET Framework is monolithic, meaning it requires a large installation package that includes many components that may not be needed by every application.
Performance: This platform is faster and more scalable than .NET Framework, as it has been optimized for modern hardware and software architectures. .NET Framework is slower and less scalable than .NET Core, as it has been designed for older hardware and software architectures.
Compatibility: .NET Core is compatible with .NET Framework and other .NET platforms, as it supports the .NET Standard, which is a set of APIs that define a common and consistent interface for .NET platforms. .NET Framework is also compatible with .NET Core and other .NET platforms, as it supports the .NET Standard, but it may not support some of the newer features and APIs that are available in .NET Core.
Updates: .NET Core is updated frequently and regularly by Microsoft and the community, ensuring that it stays relevant and competitive in the software development market. .NET Framework is updated infrequently and irregularly by Microsoft, and it has reached its end of development, meaning that it will not receive any new features, enhancements, or performance improvements, but only security and bug fixes.
.NET Core Vs .NET Framework: Pros and Cons¶
Based on the comparison above, we can summarize the pros and cons of .NET Core and .NET Framework as follows:
.NET Core Pros¶
Cross-platform: .NET Core can run on Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile devices (via Xamarin), giving developers more flexibility and options in choosing the target platform and device for their applications.
Open-source: .NET Core is open-source, giving developers more transparency, collaboration, and innovation opportunities, as they can access, modify, and contribute to the source code, and also use various third-party libraries and tools that are available in the open-source community.
Modular: .NET Core is modular, giving developers more control and efficiency in deploying their applications, as they can only include the components that are needed by the application, resulting in smaller and faster deployments.
Fast and scalable: .NET Core is fast and scalable, giving developers more performance and reliability in running their applications, as it has been optimized for modern hardware and software architectures, and it can handle high volumes of requests and data with minimal resources and overhead.
Compatible: .NET Core is compatible with .NET Framework and other .NET platforms, giving developers more convenience and interoperability in working with existing .NET applications and libraries, as it supports the .NET Standard, which is a set of APIs that define a common and consistent interface for .NET platforms.
Updated: .NET Core is updated frequently and regularly by Microsoft and the community, giving developers more features and improvements in developing their applications, as it stays relevant and competitive in the software development market.
.NET Core Cons¶
Less mature and stable: .NET Core is less mature and stable than .NET Framework, as it is relatively new and still evolving, and it may have some bugs and issues that need to be fixed and resolved.
Less support and documentation: .NET Core has less support and documentation than .NET Framework, as it is not as widely used and adopted, and it may not have as many resources and guides as are available for .NET Framework.
Less compatible with older technologies: .NET Core is less compatible with older technologies than .NET Framework, as it does not support some of the legacy features and APIs that are available in .NET Framework, such as Web Forms, WCF, and Windows Forms.
.NET Framework Pros¶
Mature and stable: .NET Framework is mature and stable, as it has been around for a long time and has been tested and proven in various domains and scenarios, and it has a solid and robust foundation that ensures its quality and reliability.
More support and documentation: .NET Framework has more support and documentation than .NET Core, as it is widely used and adopted, and it has a large and active community that provides various resources and guides that are available for .NET Framework.
More compatible with older technologies: .NET Framework is more compatible with older technologies than .NET Core, as it supports some of the legacy features and APIs that are not available in .NET Core, such as Web Forms, WCF, and Windows Forms.
.NET Framework Cons¶
Windows-only: .NET Framework is Windows-only, meaning it can only run on Windows operating systems, limiting developers’ flexibility and options in choosing the target platform and device for their applications.
Closed-source: .NET Framework is closed-source, meaning it is controlled by Microsoft and its source code is not publicly available, limiting developers’ transparency, collaboration, and innovation opportunities, as they cannot access, modify, or contribute to the source code, and also depend on Microsoft’s decisions and policies regarding the platform.
Monolithic: .NET Framework is monolithic, meaning it requires a large installation package that includes many components that may not be needed by every application, increasing the size and complexity of the deployments, and also making it harder to update and maintain the platform.
Slow and less scalable: .NET Framework is slow and less scalable than .NET Core, as it has been designed for older hardware and software architectures, and it cannot handle high volumes of requests and data with minimal resources and overhead, affecting the performance and reliability of the applications.
.NET Core vs .NET Framework: Use Cases¶
Depending on the type, scope, and requirements of your project, you may choose to use either .NET Core or .NET Framework as your development platform. Here are some general guidelines and scenarios that can help you decide which one to use:
Use .NET Core if:
- You want to build cross-platform applications that can run on Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile devices (via Xamarin).
- You want to use the latest and greatest features and improvements that .NET has to offer, such as C# 9, Blazor, and gRPC.
- You want to leverage the open-source community and ecosystem that .NET Core provides and also contribute to it.
- You want to deploy your applications as self-contained executables that include all the necessary dependencies and libraries, without requiring any installation or configuration on the target machine.
- You want to optimize the performance and scalability of your applications and take advantage of the modern hardware and software architectures that .NET Core supports.
- You want to migrate or port your existing .NET Framework applications to .NET Core, and benefit from its advantages and features.
Use .NET Framework if:
- You want to build Windows desktop and server-based applications that use Windows-specific features and APIs, such as Windows Forms, WPF, WCF, and COM.
- You want to maintain and update your existing .NET Framework applications that are stable and reliable and do not require any major changes or enhancements.
- You want to use the mature and well-established libraries and tools that are available for .NET Framework, and also the large and active community that supports it.
- You want to ensure the compatibility and interoperability of your applications with other .NET Framework applications and libraries and avoid any potential issues or conflicts that may arise from using different .NET platforms.
- You want to follow the official support and lifecycle policy that Microsoft provides for .NET Framework and receive security and bug fixes until at least 2029.
.NET Core vs .NET Framework: Best Practices¶
Regardless of which .NET platform you choose to use for your project, there are some best practices that you should follow to ensure the quality and success of your development process.
Here are some of them:
Use the .NET Standard as much as possible to write code that can run on any .NET platform, and avoid using platform-specific features and APIs that may limit the portability and compatibility of your code.
Use Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code as your IDE, as they provide a rich and integrated environment for developing, debugging, testing, and deploying .NET applications. They also support various extensions and plugins that can enhance your productivity and experience.
Use NuGet as your package manager, as it provides a convenient and consistent way to manage the dependencies and libraries that your applications use. It also allows you to access and use various third-party packages that are available in the NuGet Gallery.
Use Git as your version control system, as it provides a robust and distributed way to track and manage the changes and revisions of your code. It also allows you to collaborate and share your code with other developers and teams, using platforms such as GitHub and Azure DevOps.
Use .NET CLI as your command-line interface, as it provides a simple and unified way to perform various tasks, such as creating projects, adding packages, running tests, and publishing applications. It also allows you to automate and script your development workflow, using tools such as PowerShell and Bash.
Use Docker as your container platform, as it provides a lightweight and isolated way to package and run your applications, without requiring any installation or configuration on the target machine. It also allows you to deploy and scale your applications easily, using platforms such as Kubernetes and Azure Container Service.
.NET Core vs .NET Framework: Conclusion¶
.NET Core and .NET Framework are two different versions of .NET that have their own features, benefits, drawbacks, use cases, and future prospects. .NET Core is a cross-platform, open-source, and modular version of .NET that is designed to be lightweight, fast, and flexible, and it supports building and running applications on Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile devices (via Xamarin).
.NET Framework is the original and most widely used version of .NET that is mainly used for building and running Windows desktop and server-based applications, and it provides a rich set of libraries, tools, and languages that enable developers to build applications for various domains and scenarios.
Depending on the type, scope, and requirements of your project, you may choose to use either .NET Core or .NET Framework as your development platform. However, in general, .NET Core is the future of .NET, and it is recommended to use it for new applications and scenarios, as it offers more advantages and features than .NET Framework, such as cross-platform support, open-source development, modularity, performance, compatibility, and updates.
.NET Framework is still a viable and supported platform, and it is recommended to use it for existing applications and scenarios, as it offers more maturity and stability than .NET Core, as well as more support and documentation, and more compatibility with older technologies.
Regardless of which .NET platform you choose to use for your project, there are some best practices that you should follow to ensure the quality and success of your development process, such as using the .NET Standard, Visual Studio, NuGet, Git, .NET CLI, and Docker.
