In the world of Microsoft development, two major platforms dominate the backend landscape: .NET Framework and .NET Core. While they share a common heritage, they serve different purposes and are optimized for different scenarios. Let’s break down their differences step by step
🏛️ .NET Framework: The Legacy Giant
Overview
.NET Framework is the original implementation of .NET, released in 2002. It’s a Windows-only platform designed for building desktop applications (like WinForms and WPF) and web applications using ASP.NET.
Key Features
Windows-centric: Runs only on Windows OS.
Mature ecosystem: Rich libraries, stable APIs, and long-term enterprise support.
ASP.NET Web Forms & MVC: Traditional web development models.
Full support for WCF, WF, and older tech stacks.
Use Cases
Enterprise apps are tightly coupled with Windows.
Legacy systems that rely on older APIs.
Applications using technologies like WCF, Windows Services, or COM Interop.