What is .NET Core?

.NET Core is a modern, open-source framework developed by Microsoft that enables developers to build applications that can run on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It allows teams to create cloud-based applications, microservices, and APIs with a consistently high performance and scalability.

The term ".NET" encompasses more than just .NET Core. It includes the wider .NET ecosystem, such as .NET Framework and Xamarin. However, .NET Core is specifically designed to be modular and lightweight, and it performs exceptionally well in cloud environments.

Key Features of .NET Core

1. Cross-Platform

With .NET Core, developers can build applications that run on various operating systems. This cross-platform capability ensures that teams can work with their preferred local setups without being tied to a specific environment.

2. High Performance

.NET Core is built for speed. It incorporates performance optimizations that allow applications to run faster and be more efficient, making it an excellent choice for applications requiring high throughput.

3. Open Source and Community-Driven

.NET Core is an open-source project maintained by Microsoft and the broader community. This openness allows developers to contribute, review code, and ensure continuous improvement.

4. Microservices Support

.NET Core has built-in support for containers, making it ideal for microservices architecture. You can easily deploy and manage applications as lightweight, modular components.

5. Modular Design

You can choose to include only the components necessary for your specific application. This modularity helps to reduce the application's footprint and improves load times.

Getting Started with .NET Core: A Simple Example

Prerequisites

Before diving into coding, ensure you have the following:

• .NET SDK installed
• A code editor like Visual Studio Code, or you can use any IDE of your choice

Create a New Console Application

1. Open your terminal or command prompt.
2. Run the following command to create a new directory for your project:

   mkdir HelloWorldApp
   cd HelloWorldApp

3. Create a new .NET Core console application using the command:

   dotnet new console

This command generates a simple console application template for you. You will see a program file named Program.cs.

Explore the Program Code

Open the Program.cs file in your code editor. You will see the following code:

using System;

namespace HelloWorldApp
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
        }
    }
}

This simple program outputs the text "Hello, World!" to the console.

Run Your Application

To execute your application, navigate back to your terminal and run the following command:

dotnet run

You should see the output:

Hello, World!

Congratulations! You've just created and run your first .NET Core application.

Key Commands Recap

• dotnet new console: Creates a new console application
• dotnet run: Builds and runs the application

Conclusion

As you can see, getting started with .NET Core is easy and straightforward. Its cross-platform capabilities, robust performance, and strong community support make it an excellent choice for modern application development, particularly when considering cloud services and containerization.

Developers are encouraged to explore the rich features and tools available in the .NET Core ecosystem, as there are many avenues for building powerful software solutions, from APIs to web applications and beyond.