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.NET Core vs .NET Framework: A Complete Comparison for Developers

Suzan Kara

The.NET Framework and.NET Core are the two main platforms that rule the backend scene in the Microsoft software industry. Despite having a similar history, they have distinct functions and are best suited for various situations. Let’s dissect their differences in detail.

.NET Framework: The Legacy Giant

Overview

.NET Framework is the original implementation of .NET, released in 2002. It’s a Windows-only platform designed for building desktop applications (like WinForms and WPF) and web applications using ASP.NET.

Key Features

  • Windows-centric: Runs only on Windows OS.
  • Mature ecosystem: Rich libraries, stable APIs, and long-term enterprise support.
  • ASP.NET Web Forms & MVC: Traditional web development models.
  • Full support for WCF, WF, and older tech stacks.

Use Cases

  • Enterprise apps are tightly coupled with Windows.
  • Legacy systems that rely on older APIs.
  • Applications using technologies like WCF, Windows Services, or COM Interop.

.NET Core: The Modern Cross-Platform Hero

Overview

.NET Core is a lightweight, modular, and cross-platform rewrite of .NET, first released in 2016. It’s designed for modern cloud, microservices, and containerized applications.

Key Features

  • Cross-platform: Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
  • High performance: Optimized for speed and scalability.
  • Modular architecture: Use only the packages you need via NuGet.
  • Unified web stack: ASP.NET Core replaces Web Forms and classic MVC.
  • CLI support: Powerful command-line tooling for automation and DevOps.

Use Cases

  • Cloud-native apps and microservices.
  • Cross-platform APIs and web apps.
  • Dockerized deployments and CI/CD pipelines.
  • High-performance backend systems.

Difference between .NET Core and .NET Framework

Feature .NET Framework .NET Core
Platform Support Windows only Windows, Linux, macOS
Performance Good Excellent (Kestrel, GC)
Deployment System-wide Self-contained or global
Web Stack ASP.NET, Web Forms, MVC ASP.NET Core
Desktop UI WinForms, WPF WinForms, WPF (Windows only)
Microservices Ready Limited Fully supported
Open Source Partially Fully open source on GitHub
Future Direction Maintenance mode Actively developed (.NET 8+)

Which One Should You Use?

Choose .NET Core if you’re building modern, scalable, cross-platform apps or working with Docker, Kubernetes, or cloud services.

Stick with .NET Framework if you’re maintaining legacy enterprise apps that depend on older Windows-only technologies.

ASP.NET Core 10.0 Hosting Recommendation

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