In the recent decade, .NET has grown exponentially, and most industry experts prefer it for large-scale projects.
From creating single-page applications to dynamic enterprise software, .NET provides tools, APIs, and libraries to cover every need. However, there’s still confusion in the development domain about the difference between .NET and .NET Core.
For clarity about .NET and .NET Core technology, let’s read further. And select the appropriate .NET tech.
A Brief Introduction to .NET and .NET Core
What is .NET Framework?
.NET Framework provides a runtime environment to implement the libraries, programming languages, and tools compatible with the Microsoft .NET. It functions as a primary platform for Windows OS-based services, desktop applications, and services.
You can utilize various languages, such as C#, F#, and Visual Basic, to build .NET applications and compile them using the same mechanism.
The .NET architecture consists of two primary components, Common Language Runtime and the Class Library.
Whenever a developer writes source code for the .NET application, it first gets compiled into the Common Intermediate Language. Further, CLR supports it by handling threads, exceptions, garbage values, and other runtime operations.
In addition, CLR uses a Just-in-Time compiler, which helps convert the code to machine language and run it on the system.
What is .NET Core?
.NET Core is an extended version of the .NET Framework, which aids in creating cross-platform applications compatible with Linux, Windows, and macOS-based machines. You can build cutting-edge services and software with it through C# and .NET tools.
In addition, it offers support for REST APIs, Microservices, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Blazor for enabling real-time data execution.
You can also utilize it for creating Desktop, Web, Cloud, Mobile, Gaming, IoT, and AI-based applications for any operating system. Moreover, you can integrate it with JavaScript-based front-end technologies, such as React and Angular, for creating SPA solutions.
Analyzing the Difference between .NET and .NET Core
Performance and Stability
Most the .NET developers prefer .NET Core due to its modular architecture for creating a high-performing application.
.NET Core doesn’t require any external resources, and also its source code directly gets compiled, leading to reduce the app loading and running time. In addition, you can effortlessly link it with cloud infrastructure and perform custom configuration and testing operations.
Contrastingly, developers consider the .NET framework a little slower, as the processes involved in .NET code compilation are more. Moreover, it requires an additional resource, called Native Image Generator, to faster the app speed.
Platform Compatibility
If you are looking for a technology to build a cross-platform application, then .NET Core is the right option.
ASP.NET Development lets you craft solutions for multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. You can run a single codebase on any system and save development time, resources, and effort.
On the other hand, the .NET framework enables only Window-based app creation.
Its tools, APIs, and libraries focus on Windows operating systems to ensure a seamless experience and smooth data execution. Although you can utilize different languages with it, the final software will run only on Windows OS.
Architectures
.NET Framework and .NET Core both comprise a modular and advanced architecture approach for providing their services.
.NET framework architecture gets divided into three main layers: language, library, and CLR. All three collaborate to compile the code, convert it into machine language, and load it for the end-user.
And .NET Core is based on the MVC pattern or Model-View-Controller structure. It enables software engineers to focus on data logic, information display, and data flow operations individually. Moreover, it supports Dependency injection, making the testing and maintenance tasks more manageable.
Security
The overall .NET ecosystem is entirely secure from cyber-attacks and ensures data integrity, non-repudiation, and availability.
.NET Core offers built-in components for configuring authentication, authorization, secure storage, and HTTPS. .Net Core apps verify the user identity for each session and encrypt the data in each state. Moreover, it provides modules for preventing XSRF, XSS, CSRF, and CORS attacks.
Similarly, the .NET framework also consists of advanced security systems for eliminating malicious actor access across the app.
It allows the creation of different zones and trust levels for securely processing the assemblies. It leverages businesses to manage Local Intranet, Trusted and Untrusted sites, and internet zones according to requirements.
Deployment Mechanism
For deploying a .NET framework application, you have to configure updates on the IIS server manually. Furthermore, it enables the below-listed features by default to streamline deployment:
- Component visibility is limited to the containing app.
- It allows multiple app versions to exist simultaneously.
- You can embed it with a windows installer to save time and on-demand installation.
In its comparison, .NET Core offers automated updates and deployment on a cloud infrastructure. Additionally, it leverages the .NET developers to craft their custom hosting procedure for enabling self-hosting.
The Answer to When and Which Development
Let’s find out which applications you can consider .NET Framework and .NET Core.
When to prefer ASP.NET Development?
You can prefer .NET Core for the following projects:
- Platform Independent Applications
- App with microservice backend
- Mobile and Desktop App Development
When to prefer Dot NET Framework Development?
You can create the below-listed projects using .NET Framework:
- Windows Form Creation
- Windows Operating System specific applications
- Window OS Services
- Web-Apps
Final Words from .NET Developers
.NET Framework and .NET Core are part of the extensive .NET ecosystem, and both provide us with unique mechanisms to build top-notch applications.
Where the .NET framework focuses on Window applications and services, .NET Core leverages to furnish apps for Windows, Linux, and macOS. .NET Core is an advanced technology that extends the functionalities and features of the .NET framework. Hence, while selecting any of them for the software project, you only have to consider whether you want a solution to run on different devices or only on Windows devices.