.NET Core and .NET Framework are both software development platforms created by Microsoft for building various types of applications using the C# programming language. However, they differ in several key aspects, and the choice between them depends on your project requirements and goals.
.NET Framework:
- Windows-Centric: .NET Framework is primarily Windows-centric and is tightly integrated with the Windows operating system. It is designed for building Windows desktop applications, server applications, and web applications using technologies like ASP.NET WebForms and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
- Full Framework: .NET Framework is considered a “full framework” because it provides a large set of libraries and APIs, including Windows Forms and ADO.NET, for a wide range of application types. However, it’s limited to Windows environments.
- Legacy: .NET Framework has been around for many years and has a large base of existing applications. It’s a suitable choice for maintaining and extending legacy Windows applications.
.NET Core:
- Cross-Platform: .NET Core is designed to be cross-platform and can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s a more versatile choice for building modern, cross-platform applications.
- Modular and Lightweight: .NET Core is modular, meaning you only include the libraries and dependencies your application needs, making it lightweight and efficient. It’s suitable for microservices, containers, and cloud-native applications.
- Open Source: .NET Core is open source and actively developed on platforms like GitHub. This openness encourages community contributions and rapid improvements.
- Modern Web Development: .NET Core is often used for modern web development with ASP.NET Core, which is optimized for building web APIs and web applications. It supports popular web development technologies like MVC and Razor Pages.
.NET 5 and Beyond:
Microsoft has moved towards unifying the best features of both .NET Core and .NET Framework into a single platform called .NET 5 (and subsequent versions). .NET 5 is the successor to .NET Core and aims to provide a unified development experience across different platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
If you’re targeting Windows-specific applications and have existing .NET Framework code, it may make sense to continue using .NET Framework. However, for new cross-platform projects, modern web development, or cloud-native applications, .NET Core (or .NET 5 and later) is the preferred choice due to its flexibility, performance, and cross-platform capabilities.
