Difference between .Net core and .Net framework

 .NET Core and the traditional .NET Framework are two different versions of the .NET platform, each with its own characteristics and use cases. 

Here are the key differences between them:

1. Cross-Platform vs. Windows-Only:

   • .NET Core: Designed for cross-platform development, allowing you to build and run applications on Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions.
   • .NET Framework: Primarily designed for Windows and limited to that platform.

2. Open Source:

   • .NET Core: Microsoft open-sourced .NET Core, enabling community contributions and transparency.
   • .NET Framework: The full .NET Framework is not open source; only parts of it, like ASP.NET, were open-sourced.

3. Modularity:

   • .NET Core: Modular design, where you can include only the necessary libraries, making applications more lightweight.
   • .NET Framework: Monolithic framework where you get a larger set of libraries whether you need them or not.

4. Performance:

   • .NET Core: Optimized for performance with faster startup times and improved runtime performance compared to the traditional .NET Framework.
   • .NET Framework: Generally has slower startup times and may be less performant for certain scenarios.

5. .NET Standard:

   • .NET Core: Conforms to .NET Standard, a set of APIs that aim to provide consistency between different .NET implementations (including Xamarin and Unity).
   • .NET Framework: Does not fully conform to .NET Standard, which can make library compatibility more challenging.

6. Web Development:

   • .NET Core: Includes ASP.NET Core for building modern web applications and web APIs.
   • .NET Framework: Uses ASP.NET, which is part of the traditional .NET Framework, for web development.

7. Desktop Development:

   • .NET Core: Initially focused on web and cloud applications, but .NET 5 and later versions now support desktop application development via technologies like MAUI (Multi-platform App UI).
   • .NET Framework: Suitable for Windows desktop application development using technologies like Windows Forms and WPF.

8. Long-Term Support (LTS):

   • .NET Core: Introduced the concept of LTS releases to provide stable and supported versions for extended periods.
   • .NET Framework: LTS was not a standard concept, and updates were tied to Windows releases.

9. Unified Platform:

   • .NET 5 and Later: Microsoft merged .NET Core and the traditional .NET Framework into a unified platform called ".NET." Subsequent versions (e.g., .NET 6, .NET 7) continue to improve and expand this unified platform, offering the best of both worlds.

In summary, while .NET Core emphasized cross-platform development, open source collaboration, and performance, the traditional .NET Framework was primarily Windows-focused. With the introduction of .NET 5 and later, developers are encouraged to use the unified ".NET" platform, which combines the strengths of both .NET Core and the traditional .NET Framework.