.NET Core Latest Release and Version History

Last updated on May 23, 2024

Since its original launch in 2016, .NET Core has evolved through multiple releases and even changed its name. In this blog post, we’ll explore the latest release of .NET Core, its evolution, and how it relates to the traditional .NET Framework.

Since the release of .NET 5 in December 2020, the branding has shifted from .NET Core to a unified .NET platform, aiming to merge the capabilities of both .NET Core and .NET Framework.

The latest LTS (Long-Term Support) release, as of now, is .NET 8, released in November 2023. This version continues the path of unification and includes numerous performance enhancements, new APIs, and improved developer tools.

This is used, for example, in Connecting Software's current product releases, such as Document Extractor Built for The Salesforce Platform™. 

Here’s a concise table of the .NET Core and subsequent .NET releases, including their first release dates and end-of-support dates:

*LTS = Long-Term Support = Releases that Microsoft prioritizes for extended support with bug fixes and security patches

With this table, you can answer most questions regarding the different versions of .NET. For example, let’s say you want to know if .NET Core 3.1 is still supported. You go to the line on .NET Core 3.1, and you can see that although this is an LTS, support ended in December 2022.

This table also noticeably shows that Microsoft now releases major .NET versions annually in November. Standard Term Support (STS) releases are currently coming out in even-numbered years, and Long-Term Support (LTS) releases come out in odd-numbered years. You can confirm all this in Microsoft’s Release Schedule.

Introduced by Microsoft on November 12, 2014, .NET Core was designed as an open-source, cross-platform successor to the .NET Framework. While the .NET Framework is limited to Windows, .NET Core can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This makes it a versatile choice for modern developers who want to build applications that can operate on multiple platforms.

• Open-Source: .NET Core's source code is available on GitHub, allowing anyone to view, contribute, and modify it. It is licensed under the permissive MIT License, which offers extensive flexibility.
• Cross-Platform: .NET Core supports multiple operating systems, enabling developers to write code once and run it anywhere. This is achieved through a unified runtime that is platform-agnostic, ensuring consistent performance and behavior across different environments.

• The .NET Framework was Microsoft's original framework for building Windows applications. However, with the advent of modern application requirements, a need for a more flexible, cross-platform framework led to the development of .NET Core.
• While the .NET Framework continues to receive maintenance updates, new feature development is focused on the unified .NET platform (.NET 5 and beyond). This shift encourages developers to adopt the latest technologies and benefit from advancements in performance, API enhancements, and cross-platform capabilities.

The evolution from .NET Core to the unified .NET platform represents a significant milestone in the .NET ecosystem. With the latest release being .NET 8, developers are equipped with a robust, versatile framework that caters to modern development needs, from cross-platform compatibility to performance improvements.

Stay tuned for future updates as Microsoft continues to refine its .NET offer.