The release of “.NET 7” finalizes the vision of unifying Windows frameworks and universalizing .NET/C# started with the release of .NET 5 in 2020. Enough to allow companies to use their internal C# skills on all Desktop and mobile platforms used in the company.
The .NET framework is central in many internal developments of companies under Windows. Since the advent of its open source cross-platform version, the framework has reinvented itself and not only affects more developers but above all more projects, not just Windows but also Web and mobile, consolidating the C# language which is closely linked to it. Because for many companies, the adoption of the new open source .NET framework is motivated by the use of C# skills beyond Windows developments.
Moreover, the arrival of .NET 7 is also accompanied by the release of C# 11 which integrates various improvements in the handling of character strings, pattern lists and the creation of objects.
” .NET 7 brings your apps better performance and new features for C# 11/F# 7, .NET MAUI, ASP.NET Core/Blazor, Web APIs, WinForms, WPF, and more explains Microsoft in a blog post. ” With .NET 7, you can also easily containerize your .NET 7 projects, implement CI/CD workflows in GitHub Actions, and achieve cloud-native observability. »
“.NET 7” refines the cross-platform and cross-device vision initiated by the two previous editions.
As a reminder, the “.NET Framework” was born in the 2000s under Windows and in a closed and proprietary form. In 2014, the palace revolution, Microsoft decided to start from scratch and reinvent its framework in an open source and cross-platform version under the name “.NET Core”, a version then essentially centered on server developments.
In 2020, Microsoft decides to start unifying the “.NET Framework Windows” and “.NET Core” by launching a “.NET 5” inviting companies to port their Windows business applications to this new version.
In 2021, “.NET 6” marks a second step in this unification effort by concretizing the “Project Reunion” aimed not only at reconciling Windows frameworks but also at opening up the new “.NET” a little more to Cross-OS Desktop and Mobile applications (Mac, iOS , Android…).
The arrival of “.NET 7” marks the culmination of the universalization and unification effort undertaken in 2020 with “.NET 5”. Microsoft had always claimed that this effort would require at least two years and two evolutions.
Thus, “.NET 7” brings many improvements to “.NET MAUI” (which allows the creation of mobile and cross-platform applications) but also to Windows Forms and WPF confirming the publisher’s desire to make “. NET 7” the real framework for developing business applications under Windows for companies.
In addition, “.NET7” provides more extensive support for ARM64, which is essential both for bringing Windows developments to “Windows on ARM” but also for the development of cross-platform Windows and macOS applications now that the Macs have switched to Apple M1 and M2 processors.
Note also several improvements (especially in the garbage collector) to optimize the operation and footprint of .NET within containers.
According to Microsoft, the development of this version 7 was strongly influenced by its community. It features more than 28,000 contributions from 8,900 contributors. The .NET ecosystem now has over 330,000 NuGet packages. This gives a good idea of the growing importance of the new “.NET” framework.
Not to do things by halves, Microsoft is also announcing the launch of Visual Studio 2022 “17.4” which officially supports .NET 7 and integrates .NET MAUI as standard in both its Windows version and its MacOS version. Now developers can design mobile and desktop applications for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS from both a Windows machine and an Apple Mac! And of course, Visual Studio 2022 “17.4” is also now fully ARM64 native on both Windows and Mac.
Finally, Microsoft is highlighting important performance improvements on both .NET7 and Visual Studio for a more efficient development environment and faster cross-platform applications.
To download: Download .NET 7.0 (Linux, macOS, and Windows) (microsoft.com)
Also read:
Ubuntu adopts .NET 6
Microsoft celebrates 20 years of .NET
The “.NET MAUI” framework is officially available in GA
Project Reunion is finalized: the world of Windows development regains coherence!
Visual Studio 2022 and .NET 6 are officially available
Google wants to modernize C++ with its new Carbon language
Visual Studio celebrates its 25th anniversary.