A Comprehensive Guide About Migrating from .NET Framework to .NET Core
Microsoft has made tremendous advancements in its cross-platform, open-source .Net Core, which is why there are many reasons to migrate from the classic .Net Framework.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
124,934 active websites using ASP.NET Core; additionally, 51,043 sites used it historically.
Moreover, .NET Core is future-proof, allowing your application to run on any platform, be it Windows, Linux, or Mac. So, without further ado, let’s see how you can migrate your application from .NET Framework to .NET Core.
This comprehensive guide discusses why you should migrate to .NET Core, how to prepare your existing applications for the move, and finally, walk you through the migration process itself. Read on to learn when and how to migrate your apps to .NET Core.
Related Blog: A Comprehensive Guide to .NET Core Vs .NET Framework
Why Should You Migrate to .NET Core?
.NET Core comes with a lot of new features and improvements. Here are a few reasons why you should migrate to .NET Core.
Highly Scalable
You can run your application on multiple machines in a cluster. It is helpful for high-traffic websites or applications that need computing power. If you have ever employed a cloud-based service like Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure, you know how effective these services are.
With .NET Core, you can create similar systems with much less effort. You don’t have to worry about setting up servers or load balancers — it’s all done for you.
Containers & Microservices
We can use .Net Core with containers. It makes it easy to package your application into a container and deploy it anywhere. You can also use microservices with .Net Core, a software architecture style that breaks down applications into small, independent services.
It allows you to develop your application in smaller chunks that are easier to maintain. Of course, it’s not as easy as using one extensive program, but it’s still more manageable than developing one massive application.
Non-Blocking
If you want to create an application that performs at high speeds without overloading servers or slowing down other programs, then you need a non-blocking code. In simple terms, non-blocking code means your program won’t lock up when dealing with requests or data transfers.
It runs well while handling each request independently of others and releasing resources when needed. .Net Core has a new set of APIs that help developers easily build non-blocking applications. You can even use these APIs in older versions of .Net.
Non-Deterministic Finalizers
Finalizers help to clean up the memory after the deletion of objects. Unfortunately, finalizers don’t always run as expected — and sometimes they never run at all! This has led many developers to avoid using them altogether because it isn’t possible to predict how long it will take for a finalizer to run. The good news is that .NET Core has removed finalizers entirely!
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When Should You Migrate to .NET Core?
You should migrate your project from the entire Framework to .NET core when you want a smaller footprint for your application. A smaller footprint means deploying your application on devices with less storage capacity. It is helpful for IoT applications or any device with limited storage space.
Another rationale why migrate is if you are targeting multiple platforms like Windows, macOS, and Linux. With .NET core, you can develop an application that targets all three platforms in one code base, making it much easier for development teams since they don’t have to maintain different code bases for each platform.
It also allows developers to target newer versions of operating systems without worrying about backward compatibility issues. As new features are added to .NET core libraries, you can take advantage of them immediately.
If you have already migrated your app from the full Framework, then there isn’t much work involved in migrating it again, but some breaking changes may need to be taken care of.
On top of everything else, migrating gives you more time before Microsoft completely drops support for the full Framework. However, migration will become much more complicated and costly at such a point. So now is probably a good time!
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Steps to Migrate from .NET Framework to .NET Core
Before migrating your application, understand the differences between the two frameworks. .NET Framework is a complete and comprehensive development platform. On the other hand, .NET Core is a modular and cross-platform framework for developing applications.
.NET Framework has been the staple of Microsoft development for many years. However, with the release of .NET Core, it is time to migrate your applications to the new platform.
Here are some of the easy steps to migrate as efficiently as possible.
Step 1: Pick The Right Version Of .NET Core For Your Application
.NET Core is still a new platform, with many versions to choose from. You must pick the right version for your application. The latest version is not always the best option.
You should consider the support of each version before making your decision. You should also consider the features that each version offers.
Step 2: Download And Install The .NET Core SDK
The next step is to download and install the .NET Core SDK. It will give you all the tools you need to develop applications on the platform. It will also allow you to target different versions of .NET Core.
Steps 3: Migrate From .NET Framework To .NET Core
Once you have installed the SDK, it is time to migrate your application from .NET Framework to .NET Core. The first thing that you need to do is create a new project in Visual Studio. When creating the project, select the ASP.NET Core Web Application template.
Steps 4: Migrate Your Code And Dependencies
The next step is to migrate your code and dependencies to the new project. You can simply copy over the files from your old project. You will also need to add any NuGet packages your project depends on.
Moreover, you will need to make some changes to your code to make it compatible with .NET Core. The most common change is updating the target framework of your project.
Steps 5: Migrate Your NuGet Packages
If your project uses NuGet packages, you must migrate them to the new project. By right-clicking on the References folder in Visual Studio and selecting “Manage NuGet Packages,” it can be done.
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Steps 6: Migrate Your Data
You must migrate your data to the new project if your application uses a database. You can do this by using the “Export” and “Import” features in Visual Studio. You can also use the “Generate Scripts” feature to generate a SQL script that can migrate your data.
Step 7: Migrate Your .csproj File
Once you have migrated your code, dependencies, and data, the next step is to migrate your .csproj file. You can do this by simply copying over the file from your old project. In addition, you will need to change the file to point to the new SDK.
Step 8: App Configuration For The New Platform
Once you have migrated your .csproj file, the next thing you need to do is configure your app for the new platform. Just do this by adding the following line to your configuration file:
```
“runtimeOptions”: {
“tfm”: “netcoreappX.Y”, // Replace X and Y with the version of .NET Core you are using
}
```
Finally, you will need to rebuild your project and run it on the new platform.
Step 9: Test & Deploy Your App On .NET Core
After migrating your app to .NET Core, it is vital to test it thoroughly. It will ensure that your app is running on the new platform correctly. You should also deploy your app on .NET Core before making it live.
Conclusion
Migrating from .NET Framework to .NET Core is not difficult. However, it is essential to follow the steps to ensure a successful migration. Migration of the .NET Framework app to .NET Core can help your business stay ahead in today’s competitive market.
If you are still using .NET Framework for your business application, it is high time to migrate to .NET Core. Hire ASP.NET developers from a reliable ASP NET development company in India; this will help you migrate your app to .NET Core quickly and efficiently.
