.NET, a Microsoft-developed software framework and ecosystem for desktop and web applications engineering, is a free platform for easy development. This popular platform is free and provides programming environments for many different software development phases.
.NET is the best choice for businesses looking to integrate various services, such as desktop software, web-based applications, or cloud infrastructure. Ready to hire an ASP.NET developer? Our dedicated team of ASP.NET developers is well-versed in the latest technologies, ensuring top-notch solutions that meet your requirements. Microsoft began working on the .NET Framework in the 1990s. This tool has evolved greatly since then and is now accompanied by an ecosystem in the image below.
.NET Development Platform
The .NET is available in three different flavors, namely .NET Framework, Xamarin, and .NET Core. These three implementations are collectively known as Net Development Platforms. They contain frameworks and libraries for building various applications.
.NET Framework
It is also the earliest implementation. The.NET Framework includes the Base Class Library and three major application models: Windows Forms (WPF), ASP.NET Forms (ASP.NET Forms), and Windows Forms.
Windows Presentation Foundation is a UI Framework to create graphical user interfaces for Windows OS desktop applications. WPF makes use of the Extensible Application Markup Language. Windows Forms, a GUI library class within the .NET Framework. Windows Forms is used for desktop applications with rich graphics that are easily updated.
The ASP.NET component is designed to create dynamic websites and applications. The Common Language Runtime is at the Core ASP.NET and allows developers to use different .NET programming languages when writing ASP.NET. Common Language Runtime (CLR) is an application virtualization machine that manages memory, implements security for code access, checks code safety, and executes threads.
Base Class Library provides most of the functionality, such as classes and namespaces. It is also the heart of Framework Class Library, a collection of reusable classes and interfaces that integrates closely with Common Language Runtime. FCL, and CLR together make up the .NET Framework. .NET Framework only supports Windows devices, so a package that is cross-platform was needed.
.NET Core
.NET Core has been released since 2016. This is a cross-platform rebuild for .NET Framework. Engineers can create apps that no longer have to be tied to Windows. As some cloud providers are Linux-based. The new system aims to dominate space. .NET Core is cross-platform, and its various versions can also be installed on the same machine. .NET Core is ASP.NET Core and Universal Windows Platform.
Microsoft created the Universal Windows Platform or UWP. It is used for developing universal applications that work on all Microsoft Windows-compatible devices. Windows Phone and HoloLens.
ASP.NET Core was rewritten to make it more modular than its predecessor. ASP.NET Core lets you build web applications, mobile apps, and services. The platform is cross-platform, running on OS X, Windows and Linux.
Xamarin
The third version is Xamarin, used to develop mobile apps and Mac-based products. Xamarin, originally designed by Microsoft independently and as a proprietary software product, was acquired in 2016 by Microsoft.
This made it a completely open-source branch of the.NET Platform. Xamarin is based on the Mono runtime and a modified version of .NET Framework that works with iOS, Android and Xamarin APIs.Mac. All runtimes use the common infrastructure to make the ecosystem function. The runtime component, language, and compilers are all provided.
.NET Standard
Microsoft introduced.NET Standard in 2016. This library combines APIs of .NET Framework and .NET Core with Xamarin, allowing Asp.net developer to work from a single library rather than learning three separate ones for each .NET implementation. The ecosystem was unified, and components could be reused across platforms with greater consistency.
.NET Core is the current most popular .NET implementation. Let’s examine the benefits and disadvantages of the .NET platform. Most of these points apply to the whole ecosystem, while others only apply to specific components. We’ll detail them in their respective sections.
Pros of .NET Development
The Object-Oriented Model of Software Development
.NET was developed using object-oriented (OOP) programming. OOP is an approach to software development that breaks down large programs into smaller, more manageable pieces. OOP compartmentalizes data into objects, i.e. Data fields are described by classes, which also describe the behavior of objects and their contents.
Modular structures allow for the definition of behavior and interactions between objects without having to manage inner object attributes. OOP simplifies programming by making code more manageable and easier to test. This eliminates all unnecessary programming, and developers must do less work. Reusing components and code with .NET is possible, saving time and reducing development costs.
Simple and Reliable Caching System
Data is cached to be retrieved faster. This data resulted from a previous information request or a duplicate copy of the information stored elsewhere and would require more time to access. It is easy to use and robust. The system is also extensible. The Object Cache allows developers to build a customized cache implementation that can be used to improve performance and scalability in Windows client or server applications.
Visual Studio IDE
An Integrated Development Environment is a product that simplifies the development of software applications by giving programmers all the necessary tools for writing and testing code. Visual Studio by Microsoft is an IDE that allows you to build, debug, and publish applications for all platforms, including Android and iOS. Visual Studio integrates with .NET and offers features specific to a particular language.
Cross Platform Design and Language Independence of .NET Core
.NET Core implements .NET on OS X and Windows. It also runs code in Linux, unlike the original .NET Framework, which was only partially open, .NET, Core completely open-source code. This allows a large engineering community to contribute towards its development continuously.
Your code can run on all operating systems compatible with C#, F# or Visual Basic. It allows companies to access most platforms while staying in the .NET environment. The cross-platform and language-independent design ensures that the entire .NET Community, with a wide pool of engineering skills, can share the experience. .NET currently supports over 25 languages, including C# and Visual Basic. It also includes C++, J#, and IronPython (IronRuby).
Easy and Flexible Maintenance
Flexible deployment is one of the most important .NET Core Features. Installing it as part of an application or installing it separately is possible. Modular design makes it possible to include all dependencies. It is easy to deploy the application by simply copying and pasting folders. You can also run multiple.NET Core versions on one machine to handle different projects or perform seamless deployment.
Universal .NET Standard
The .NET ecosystem was enhanced in 2016 with a new class library, dubbed .NET Standard. The number of class libraries is based on .NET Framework (including.NET Core), Xamarin, and .NET Framework. They are used for common tasks such as rendering graphics, working with databases, or manipulating XML files. The .NET Standard Library greatly simplified the developer’s job.
Before .NET Standard was released, a programmer must redevelop a program or a library to work on the new platform. They then had to distribute the updated versions across multiple platforms. The library currently supports all libraries that are dependent on multiple applications. To ensure that you can use the .NET Standard, it is important to check the compatibility of your version.
Community
.NET is a popular platform for developers. Interestingly, it brings together engineers from midsize and large companies. It means that community members can help solve almost any problem. .NET, Core and Xamarin are the most popular technologies.
There is also an independent organization called .NET Foundation, which encourages teamwork and open development in the .NET ecosystem. It is the primary forum commercial, and asp .net developer use to exchange ideas.
Automatic Monitoring in ASP.NET
ASP.NET includes automatic monitoring. Windows Web Server monitors all web pages and applications running on the server. It immediately alerts you if problems, such as infinite loops or memory leaks, are detected. It is possible to correct this behavior and create new processes. Monitoring ensures greater stability and transparency for .NET apps.
Cons of .NET Development
.NET, despite being one of the most powerful engineering platforms due to its extensive infrastructure and history of product development, .NET has some issues.
Limited Support for Object Relational
As mentioned earlier, .NET is based on the OOP language model. The model revolves around objects, not “actions”, and data instead of logic. Entity Framework provides support for data-oriented application development within the .NET Framework.
Vendor Lock-in
Second, the second disadvantage is partially connected to the first. .NET runs and is based upon Microsoft. .NET Core, Xamarin. The entire ecosystem needs to be community driven. Microsoft is still the source of your product and makes all decisions.
Cost of Licensing
It’s not cheap to build .NET applications, regardless of whether you use open-source technologies. Microsoft’s Visual Studio IDE and other collaboration and quality assurance tools that simplify work will cost you the most. Visual Studio’s base edition costs $539/year per engineer.
A release for enterprises with cloud features, enterprise mobility and QA will cost around $3000 annually. You can still become a Microsoft Partner and get a few subscriptions free. Windows is the only way for .NET development, even though it comes at a cost. The barrier is even greater if you are new to Microsoft and have never worked with their products.
The Gap between Release and Stability
This problem may affect all Microsoft products, not just the .NET stack. It’s worth noting. Newly released products are unstable, lack documentation and support, tend to change dramatically, and need to provide adequate stability.
A Y Combinator user described the problem this way: “Our issue with Microsoft’s technology evangelism videos and articles is that they always seem to be claiming that their latest hotness is ready for production, but it isn’t.” When you try to use it in production, everything falls apart. The documentation was written for their beta version and did not apply.
Other minor disadvantages are performance problems arising from the garbage collection process in closed systems. Generally, managed environments tend to be slower than those that communicate directly with the hardware.
Use the .NET
Scalable Products: In most cases, business requirements are increasing, and software must scale to meet them. .NET is a scalable platform that allows you to redesign existing applications and match them with your business’s growing requirements.
Needs for Cross-Platform: If you are looking to develop an app that works across all platforms, .NET is the best choice. It covers most operating systems and allows you to reduce development time while expanding the desktop app or mobile application into other platforms. In addition, .NET is a great choice for specific engineering needs such as AR (including HoloLens) or gaming (including Xbox).
Enterprise Scale Infrastructures: There is still debate whether .NET was designed primarily for enterprise usage. Microsoft provides the most comprehensive tools to develop and integrate enterprise products internally and externally. Microsoft also provides a strong enterprise mobility ecosystem.
Conclusion
Asp.net developers are in high demand because of its many advantages. Microsoft has made it an open-source project. The Framework has many benefits but also some disadvantages. Looking to hire ASP.NET developers? Our team of skilled ASP.NET developers is ready to deliver high-quality solutions tailored to your specific needs.