NET Core Vs .NET Framework – Which is Better?

.NET Core is the latest version of Microsoft’s .NET framework. Before we proceed further, let’s understand what the framework is. A framework, in general, is a design platform that provides support for scripting language and code libraries.

A reusable cross-platform framework works with different operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is an open-source, free, and general-purpose programming platform. .NET Core is coded from scratch to make it lightweight and faster than before.

.NET is a software development framework developed by Microsoft specifically for creating Windows-based apps. Launched in its initial version in 2002, have been a go-to toolkit for various custom applications used in businesses all around the world have become a need thanks in large part to the .NET Framework.

Developer tools and class libraries are already included with the .NET Framework itself. It supports a wide range of well-liked programming languages and may be used to create apps for various platforms, including desktop, mobile, web, servers, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Web, database, and form-based applications can all be created using the NET Framework.

The .NET Core platform is written in C# and C++ by Microsoft. Features in .NET Core are available as a NuGet package which you can add to the application as and when the need arises; so, it is easy to scale the app.

.NET Framework was developed to let programmers develop programs that will run on the MS Windows platform. It can be used with C, C#, Jscript, Visual Basic, COBOL, and other majorly used programming languages.

To understand which platform among the .NET Core and .NET Framework is better for you, it’s feasible to understand the key differences between the both.

.NET Core’s compatibility with major operating systems including macOS, Windows, and Linux makes it an ideal framework. .NET’s structure is completely re-structured to introduce .NET Core for helping businesses develop cross-platform applications. On the other hand, .NET Framework uses a restrictive approach that allows the execution of apps, websites, and web services on the Windows platform only.

.NET Core lacks code access security which makes it quite vulnerable to outside threats. However, it uses a more robust security model which makes it more secure than ever. If we talk about .NET Framework, it is one of the most secure models leveraging code access security and Windows security algorithms.

In the .NET Core framework, the deployment is flexible; so, when a new version is launched it gets updated instantly without affecting the active applications running in the background. On the other hand, the new versions and updates in .NET Framework must be installed on Internet Information Server.

.NET Core is platform-independent and hence can be installed on multiple operating Systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, you need to install it independently. In contrast, the .NET Framework comes with a single package installation. It supports Microsoft Windows only.

.NET Core is platform-independent and hence can be installed on multiple operating Systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, you need to install it independently. In contrast, the .NET Framework comes with a single package installation. It supports Microsoft Windows only.

.NET Core is an open-source platform while .NET Framework incorporates a few open-source components. It means while the former is free to use on any platform, you may have to spend money on using the .NET Framework features and functions. The latter is, however, available for free on Windows OS.

Since mobile apps are becoming a core component for the success of any business, .NET Core supports mobile development. It’s compatible with Xamarin and other tools. On the other hand, .NET Framework does not support mobile app development at all and more developers face challenges when it comes to mobile app development.

.NET Core platform is developed using create once, run anywhere approach which makes it reusable and compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. .NET, on the other hand, is compatible to run on Windows operating systems only. So, keep that in mind if you are looking to develop a Cross-platform app.

.NET Core is packaged and shipped as a collection of an array of NuGet packages. On the other hand, the libraries and tools in .NET Framework are packaged and shipped together.

.NET Core offers a lightweight Command Line Interface (CLI) for all platforms while you can always switch to an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) when required. .NET Framework, on the other hand, is quite bulky and heavy for a command line interface. So, developers prefer using CLI to relying on IDEs.

.NET Core offers a lightweight Command Line Interface (CLI) for all platforms while you can always switch to an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) when required. .NET Framework, on the other hand, is quite bulky and heavy for a command line interface. So, developers prefer using CLI to relying on IDEs.

.NET Core platform offers high scalability and better performance in comparison to .NET Framework. On the contrary, the .NET Framework is less scalable and gives you sluggish performance when compared to .NET Core.

In general, you can go through the following analysis to make a better decision.

Prefer .NET Core when:

• you are working on developing microservices.
• the project you are working on demands cross-platform integration.
• the project is based on a command-line interface

Prefer .NET Framework when:

• your app is already running on .NET Framework
• the application intends to run on Windows only
• application demand technologies such as Webforms. Workflow, WCF, etc.

The answer to whether you must use .NET Core or .NET Framework depends on your specific project requirements and business goals. When selecting a framework for your next project, it is appropriate to consult expert development services and make the right decision.