.NET framework is the most used framework among developers in 2023 for application development, capturing a market share of 25.29%. Launched back in 2002 by Microsoft, this open-source framework is leveraged by full stack dot net developers for engineering dynamic, scalable, secure, and robust desktop or web applications. This framework not only combines MVC structure with web API but also supports the development of enterprise-grade business applications, websites, desktop apps, digital solutions, games, and much more. Today, a large number of leading enterprises including Tencent, Stack Overflow, GE Aviation, GoDaddy, Siemens Healthineers, and more are leveraging the potential of .NET in their technology stack.
Data suggests that the .NET framework supports 60+ programming languages for desktop and web application development. Out of which, 11 languages are engineered by Microsoft itself including Visual Basic, C++, C#, TypeScript, F Sharp, J Sharp, IronRuby, IronPython, etc. As an open-source framework, .NET offers an all-inclusive environment for application development.
As the platform evolved over the years, ASP.NET and .NET Core came into existence. The former is an application built on the popular .NET framework, while the latter is the rebuild of the .NET framework. ASP.NET focuses on building web applications and interactive websites using Common Language Runtime (CLR) and Framework Class Library (FCL). The Common Language Runtime takes care of memory management, security, and exception handling, while the Framework Class Library is accountable for database connectivity, network communications, user interface, and web app development. On the other hand, .NET Core is the rebuild of the .NET framework that allows .NET development solutions providers to engineer cross-platform applications for Linux and macOS rather than limiting to Windows only. This could be one of the reasons why .NET Core is the #1 framework followed by Flutter, Torch/PyTorch, Pandas, and NumPy.
5 Key Reasons to Consider .NET Framework for Application Development
1. Platform Independence
With the .NET framework, you can develop applications of any complexity for any platform. Since the framework is platform-independent, it supports application development for all platforms. Another advantage of considering this framework is that it allows dotnet core developers to reuse the application code and use it in a similar dev environment. This, in turn, enables developers to reduce the development time and provides a faster time-to-market advantage to businesses.
Whether you are looking for an enterprise-grade application for Android, iOS, or Windows platforms, hiring dot net full stack developers would serve the purpose. In other words, .NET caters to every possible solution when it comes to developing applications.
2. Easy Application Integration
.NET framework offers a slew of easy integrations with popular Microsoft applications. It simplifies application development with Lync messenger, emails, exchange servers, and other MS office applications. Furthermore, .NET developers can not only overcome multiple app logins hassle but also recover all the crucial data with a single login.
Whether it’s about collaboration on multiple projects, data sharing, or communicating within the organization, a .NET-powered application can help businesses manage all the operations with ease. In other words, businesses can automate the entire workflow management process under a single roof.
3. Supported by a Strong and Active Community
According to a recent report there are approximately 7-8 million .NET developers across the globe. In the programming realm, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that .NET is backed by one of the largest and active communities of developers who are constantly striving to make this framework better than ever. Though this framework has a steep learning curve, it comes with a host of rich resources and extensive documentation for newbies and intermediate developers to quickly become seasoned professionals in this nearly two-decade old technology.
Apart from this, Microsoft itself offers a slew of courses to help developers become an expert in this web development framework. Also, there are numerous third-party tools and sites that educate beginners and intermediate developers on everything about .NET.
4. Mobile Application Development
For mobile application development, the .NET framework is still a popular choice. The Microsoft Mobile Internet Toolkit (MMIT) enables .NET programmers to craft robust and scalable mobile applications using the drag-and-drop interface. Furthermore, the MMIT comes with emulators that make mobile application testing on different screen sizes a breeze for developers. When combined with Xamarin, .NET allows developers to build feature-rich cross-platform mobile applications in a quick turnaround time. Developers can reuse 90% of the code when developing mobile applications for iOS, Android, and Windows platforms.
5. Improved Productivity
Want to achieve enhanced productivity during the development process? If yes, you should consider dot net framework for application development. Asynchronous programming, Language Integrated Query, and Generics are the key contributors that accelerate application development. Moreover, this robust web development framework has common APIs, rich class libraries, and multi-language support that help in improving the productivity of developers.
Concluding Thoughts
Back in 2002, Microsoft officially released the .NET framework and since then, it has been ruling the programming world. Though this framework seems to be old now, it offers a host of features including cross-platform support, quick deployment, MVC architecture, easy integration with other Microsoft applications, etc. that make it the first choice among developers and enterprises alike for application development.