Getting rid of outdated computer systems can be challenging for businesses because they hold valuable historical data, and updating them is often seen as not worth the time or money. Some of these systems are very hard to replace, especially if they are vital to the operation of the business. However, it is important to note that using outdated technology is counterproductive in the sense that it can harm the company’s image and can even pose security risks. Regrettably, the .NET Framework is one of those technologies that have become obsolete for now.
Top 10 Reasons To Migrate
The .NET Framework served developers well for many years. However, Microsoft introduced .NET Core in 2016 as a cross-platform, open-source framework optimized for modern application patterns and environments. Here are 10 compelling reasons to convert .NET Framework to .NET Core.
Cross-Platform Support
One of the most significant benefits of .NET Core over .NET Framework is cross platform support.
.NET Framework is available only on Windows, while .NET Core is available for Windows, Linux and MacOS. This enables you to host your .NET Core applications on any popular server operating system, which means no lock-in to a particular vendor.
Cross-platform support allows new modern applications, such as containers and microservices, to be scalable across the platforms.
Optimized for Modern Applications
Microsoft designed .NET Core specifically for new application architectures such as microservices, containers, and serverless. It is lightweight and built in a modular fashion for cloud computing.
The .NET Framework does not accommodate such patterns. Its monolithic structure hinders the fast deployment of applications. Migrating to .NET Core helps create such modern applications.
Faster Release Cadence
Microsoft ships major .NET Core updates every year, so you can quickly access the latest features and performance improvements.
.NET Framework was on a slower 3-4 year release cycle. It took much longer to get updates, limiting opportunities to utilize new capabilities.
Open-Source and Community-Driven
.NET Core is open-source under the MIT license, while .NET Framework remains proprietary. An open-source process fosters innovation from a wider community.
Over 500 companies and 1900 contributors add features and fix bugs every month. Your team can influence the framework’s direction by contributing as well.
Cloud Native
.NET Core integrates seamlessly with popular cloud platforms like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud.
It offers out-of-the-box configuration for cloud logging, configuration, health monitoring, and more. This streamlines cloud migrations.
.NET Framework wasn’t designed specifically for the cloud, so it may require additional work to set up.
Improved Performance
.NET Core includes many performance improvements over .NET Framework, like faster garbage collection, a tiered JIT compiler, and efficient pipelines for IO operations.
Your applications can handle more requests and scale better on the same infrastructure when migrated to .NET Core.
Side-by-Side Installations
.NET Core allows side-by-side installation of different framework versions on the same machine.
This makes it easier to update applications independently. With the .NET Framework, machines could only have one version installed globally.
Container Optimization
.NET Core is optimized for containers with a smaller footprint, faster start-up time, and container-friendly project templates.
Containers enable microservices architectures and smooth DevOps workflows. Since the .NET Framework doesn’t specifically target containers, migrating makes adopting them easier.
API Improvements
Microsoft remained strategic in its goal of enhancing some of the issues that are associated with NET Core, including NET Core having APIs over .NET Framework, making its usage easier, giving it better names, and making the classes more consistent.
This results in more compact and easily readable code, which requires less effort to be put into maintaining the codebase in the future.
Longer Support Lifecycle
Microsoft provides a longer and better support lifecycle for each of the major .NET Core releases in relation to the .NET Framework versions.
This gives you extended free access to patches, security updates, as well as technical support, making it cheaper than the costly extended support plans.
Conclusion
Migrating from .NET Framework to .NET Core provides significant advantages like the ability to work with multiple platforms, cloud integration, increased release rates, and better performance.
It sets teams up to develop exceptional modern applications that are extensible with microservices, containers, and serverless. The transition takes a lot of time and effort, but the benefits are reaped manyfold in the long run.
.NET Core is undoubtedly the way forward for the .NET ecosystem. The key advantage of beginning the migration process early is that the engineering teams can leverage the latest technologies and be ready for where .NET is headed next. Adopting .NET Core today will be useful for you in the coming many years from now.