.NET

.NET is a free, open‑source, cross‑platform developer platform from Microsoft used to build applications for the web, cloud, mobile, desktop, gaming, IoT, and AI. Modern .NET (previously known as .NET Core) runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, offering high performance, modular architecture, and side‑by‑side versioning. It represents the unified direction of the .NET ecosystem, while the older .NET Framework remains Windows‑only and is primarily maintained for legacy applications.

Benefits of .NET

• Cross‑platform support: Modern .NET applications run on Windows, Linux, and macOS, enabling broader deployment options.
• High performance: Runtime optimizations, improved JIT compilation, and efficient memory management make .NET suitable for high‑throughput and cloud‑native workloads.
• Modular and lightweight: Developers include only the components their apps need, reducing footprint and improving flexibility.
• Open-source ecosystem: Supported by the .NET Foundation, with 100,000+ OSS contributions and a large community.
• Rich libraries and tools: Includes standard libraries, NuGet packages, Visual Studio, VS Code, and CLI tools for streamlined development.
• Modern application models: Supports web (ASP.NET Core), mobile (MAUI), cloud-native microservices, IoT, AI, and game development.
• Future-focused platform: Actively developed with annual releases (e.g., .NET 10), security updates, and new language features like C# 14.

Typical Use Cases

• Cloud-native and microservices applications, often deployed with Docker and Kubernetes.
• Web applications and APIs using ASP.NET Core for high‑performance backends.
• Cross‑platform mobile apps built with .NET MAUI for Android, iOS, and more.
• Enterprise systems modernization, migrating from legacy .NET Framework to modern .NET.
• Desktop applications for Windows and macOS.
• AI‑enabled applications, integrating C#, Azure services, and modern ML libraries.
• Game development using Unity and other .NET‑compatible engines.