What is the difference between ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core, and what should I choose to build my next Web application?
Another question, I saw was: Should I choose ASP.NET Core over ASP.NET in my next project? This article talks about some of the pros and cons that might help you make a decision between ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core.
.NET Architecture
Let’s review the following .NET Architecture diagram.
As you can see from the above diagram, the .NET ecosystem has three major high-level components: .NET Framework, .NET Core, and Xamarin. I personally feel the Xamarin part should fall under .NET Core which might just happen in the near future.
The .NET Framework is used to develop Windows applications using WPF and Windows Forms and Web applications, using ASP.NET MVC.
.NET Core supports UWP and ASP.NET Core libraries. UWP is used to build Windows 10 targeted apps and ASP.NET Core is used to build Web apps for Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems.
Choosing between ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Core
ASP.NET Core is one of the key components of .NET Core to build Web applications, using ASP.NET.
Students vs Professional Developers
- Want to target your Web app on Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems.
- Are not afraid of learning new things.
- Are not afraid of breaking and fixing things since ASP.NET Core is not fully matured yet.
- Don’t need a cross-platform support for your Web app.
- Need a stable environment to work in.
- Have nearer release schedules.
- Are already working on an existing app and extending its functionality.
- Already have an existing team with ASP.NET expertise.
