A New Era for .NET Development
Published on: 28 December 2016
For years, C# and .NET development were bound to Windows, and while I always appreciated the power of the language, the platform restrictions were frustrating. At the same time, I was deeply interested in mastering Java—it offered a wealth of job opportunities, and I was even bound to it during my master’s studies. But deep down, I always wished for a day when I could build C# applications just as freely.
That day is finally here. With .NET Core, I can now write, run, and deploy C# applications on macOS, Linux, and Windows—natively. No virtual machines, no hacks, no compromises. For a developer like me, who has always loved the language but needed flexibility, this means the world.
What Is .NET Core?
.NET Core is a cross-platform, open-source framework designed for modern application development. Unlike the traditional .NET Framework, which was tightly coupled to Windows, .NET Core allows developers to build and run applications across multiple operating systems with full support from Microsoft.
It’s also modular, meaning you install only the necessary components, keeping your applications lightweight and efficient.
Why Does .NET Core Matter?
Here are some of the reasons why .NET Core is a game-changer:
1. Cross-Platform Development
.NET Core removes the biggest limitation of the traditional .NET Framework: it runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows. This means:
- Developers are no longer restricted to Windows-based development environments.
- Applications can be deployed across different operating systems without modification.
2. Open Source and Community-Driven
.NET Core is fully open-source, hosted on GitHub, and developed in collaboration with the community. This means:
- You can see the source code, contribute, and suggest improvements.
- Microsoft actively listens to feedback from developers, making .NET Core more adaptable to real-world needs.
3. Performance and Efficiency
.NET Core has been optimized for speed and efficiency. Its lightweight runtime ensures:
- Faster execution times.
- Lower memory consumption.
- Better performance in cloud-native and containerized environments.
4. A Unified Development Experience
With .NET Core, you can use C# to develop applications for:
- Web (ASP.NET Core)
- Desktop (via .NET Core runtime)
- Mobile (via Xamarin)
- Cloud (Azure Functions, AWS Lambda)
- IoT and Embedded Systems
This creates a more consistent development experience across different types of applications.
Setting Up a Simple .NET Core Application
To demonstrate how simple and flexible .NET Core is, let’s create a basic “Hello, .NET Core!” console application.
Step 1: Install .NET Core SDK
You can download and install the .NET Core SDK from the official .NET website.
Step 2: Create a New .NET Core Project
Once installed, open a terminal (on macOS/Linux) or Command Prompt/PowerShell (on Windows) and run:
dotnet new console -o HelloDotNetCore
cd HelloDotNetCore
This creates a new console application inside the HelloDotNetCore directory.
Step 3: Edit the Code
Open the Program.cs file and modify it:
using System;
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
Console.WriteLine("Hello, .NET Core! Running on multiple platforms!");
}
}
Step 4: Run the Application
Now, build and run your application:
dotnet run
You should see:
Hello, .NET Core! Running on multiple platforms!
That’s it! You’ve just written and executed a C# application using .NET Core—on any operating system of your choice!
The Future of .NET Core
Microsoft’s vision for .NET Core is clear: this is the future of .NET development. The ability to develop C# applications across multiple platforms, combined with the performance improvements and open-source nature, makes .NET Core an exciting choice for modern development.
If you’ve been developing in C# but felt restricted by Windows, now is the time to explore .NET Core. In upcoming posts, we’ll dive deeper into installation, project setup, and best practices for building .NET Core applications.
