.NET advantages – The Framework History in Programming Languages

The history of .NET and its advantages dates back to the late 1990s . At this time Microsoft recognized the need for a platform that could support the development of applications across different programming languages. As a result, the company began work on the .NET framework, officially launched in 2002 with the release of Visual Studio.

Firstly, the framework was designed to provide a unified platform for building applications. Apps with features such as a common runtime engine, a class library, and a set of tools for developing, testing, and deploying applications. Since then, it has undergone several updates and iterations, with the latest version being .NET 6.0.

Some of the most known applications developed using .NET include Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, Autodesk Revit, Stack Overflow and (discontinued) Electronic Arts Origin. The list is long and versatile as the .NET development tools offer a wide array of possibilities for creating apps, web services and computer programmes.

.NET Core Functions and Uses

As we already established, .NET is a software development technology created by Microsoft. Its provides a programming model, runtime, and a set of libraries for building applications for multiple platforms.

Moreover it is designed to simplify the development of modern applications, services and provides a common framework for building applications that can run on multiple platforms. Including Windows, macOS, and Linux – enabling cross-platform development.

The .NET Core supports multiple programming languages, including C#, F#, and Visual Basic. It allows developers to build a wide range of applications. Including desktop, web, mobile, and gaming applications. Thus, it also includes a wide range of libraries and APIs that make it easier for developers to build complex applications.

The .NET ecosystem also includes the Common Language Runtime (CLR), which manages the execution of .NET code, including memory management, security, and thread management. Equally, it also provides a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler, that converts code written in .NET languages into machine code that can be executed by the processor.

Generally, .NET is a powerful and versatile technology platform. This platform provides a robust framework and runtime environment for building modern applications that can run on multiple platforms.

.NET – The Programming Language's Jack-of-all-trades

In a word, .NET is a powerful and versatile technology that can be used to build a wide variety of applications. E.g. desktop applications, web applications, mobile apps, and even games.

As mentioned before, it is also supported by Microsoft, which means that it benefits from a large and active development community. That is why, it constantly being updated with new features and improvements.

What are the .NET advantages for Enterprise Software Development?

Scalability

Firstly, .NET is capable of handling large-scale applications, making it a good choice for enterprise-level projects. It also has a wide array of compatible operating systems and works well with different programming languages used in the project.

Create cross-platform applications

Secondly, it's easier to deploy your application across different platforms because .NET can be used to build applications that run on Windows, macOS, Linux, and other operating systems. Mobile development is also an option.

Security

Thirdly, .NET includes built-in security features that can help protect your application and its data from attacks. This makes it a good choice for applications dealing with sensitive information.

Integration with other Microsoft technologies

Moreover, Microsoft's technologies like Azure, SharePoint, and SQL Server can be integrated with .NET, which is an ideal choice if your organization already uses these technologies.

Versatility

.NET is a versatile programming language that can be used to create a wide variety of applications, including web, desktop, mobile devices, and gaming applications.

Rich development environment

Another .NET advantage concerns a rich development environment that includes Visual Studio. Powerful integrated development environment (IDE) that makes it easy to write, debug, and deploy .NET applications.

Large developer community

At the same time, .NET has a large and active developer community. That means, that there are many resources available to help you or your development team learn and develop .NET applications e.g. on this official Microsoft .NET hub. Thanks to that, .NET developers can find useful net development team tips and tricks for their projects.

Robust Framework

Markedly, .NET includes a rich set of libraries and APIs that can be used to develop complex enterprise-level applications. Some of them basically include Base Class Library (BCL), Windows Forms, ASP.NET, Entity Framework, LINQ, Windows Presentation Foundation, and Windows Communication Foundation.

Rapid Application Development

Finally, .NET Core provides a wide set of tools and resources that simplify and accelerate the development process. For example, Visual Studio includes tools for generating code based on predefined templates. Not only that, but it also has a drag-and-drop user interface tool for interface design. That enables developers to quickly build user interfaces using pre-built controls and components. Result? Modular design and also superior dynamic user experience.

.NET Core – Inspiring Case Studies

At TISA Group (TISA & hero/dot) we have quite a few projects utilising the .NET programming language, and we always love to share our experience with it.

Polish Football Association Certification Programme

Polish Football Association (PZPN – Polski Związek Piłki Nożnej) is a governing body for the football association in Poland. It manages the national football teams, organizes domestic and international football competitions, and develops grassroots football programs. PZPN also oversees the development of football infrastructure and facilities and works closely with FIFA and UEFA.

At TISA Group, we were tasked with developing the PZPN Certification Programme for Football Academies – the places where future football stars are born. Our part of the work included creating a system for automating complex data management processes.

The system consisted of two separate applications, working together – CERT-ORG and FIN-ORG. The first one allowed parents, coaches, PZPN employees, and also government representatives to input, receive, and continuously monitor data. The second one calculated the financial funds transferred to football academies based on decisions made by the Polish government, providing an extensive analysis of the components involved.

.NET Core (Updated from version 5.0 to 6.0) was among the used technologies, along with C# coding language and T-SQL with the Dapper repository. All of those enabled us to create a cheaper to maintain and less prone to a malfunctioning system.

If you want to read a more in-depth analysis of the case, please refer to our other blog post by Mikołaj Zakrzowski – “Code Refactoring Techniques in Software Engineering – PZPN Case Study”.

Rachuneo SaaS Solution

Rachuneo.pl is a Polish Fin-tech start-up. Their business helps users find the best possible offers for energy, gas, internet, and telephone bills and reduce their monthly spending.

Hero/dot development team led the migration from third-party servers to Microsoft Azure and the .NET technology for efficient backend development.

We also, developed a scalable SaaS solution by taking the needed steps. Moreover, we built and rewrote cloud infrastructure due to the move from third-party servers to the company's server platforms. Markedly, our solution involved Product Design changes in UI, and DevOps by implementing an effective CI/CD pipeline.

Along with that, we created a more stable .NET/.NET Core framework on the backend. Keeping in mind future product scalability as it has a cross-platform framework. Moreover, we did frontend and testing to deliver cutting-edge web services of Rachuneo.pl.

You can find out more about this service in our Rachuneo case study on the hero/dot website.

.NET Programming Language – Summary

.NET ecosystem (almost) has it all – so, why not give it a try?

To sum up, many well-known programs were created using the .NET technology. For example, we frequently use web applications and desktop applications built on this platform.

When you next time open up Microsoft Excel or Adobe Photoshop, think of all the possibilities .NET can bring to the enterprise – and help with its digital transformation. Scalable application development with mobile device compatibility, a large community of .NET developers and rapid development of commercial apps are only a few of the advantages we mentioned in this article.

So, if you are looking for an experienced .NET development team, look no further. Web applications, multiple operating systems and mobile applications are what we specialise in at hero/dot.

Code your vision and make sure to visit the hero/dot website. Also, make sure to schedule a meeting with our team today!