Examining.NET 8: What’s New and Important

.NET is a flexible, cross-platform framework created by Microsoft that can be used to build a variety of applications, such as cloud-based, desktop, mobile, and web-based ones. It offers extensive libraries, tools, and runtime environments that support several programming languages, enabling standardized and effective software development across a range of platforms and devices.

ASP.NET is a fundamental part of the Microsoft.NET framework, which took the place of the previous Active Server Pages (ASP) technology. Microsoft released the stable.NET Core 8 framework to improve performance and expedite the creation of web applications, carrying on the tradition of its forerunners.

Let’s explore .NET 8.

What are the system requirements for .NET 8.0?

a. Minimum Visual Studio and MSBuild Versions:

• i. For .NET 8.0, version 8.0.100 requires Visual Studio 17.8 or later

b. Operating System Support:

• i. Linux, macOS, and Windows are supported.

c. Included Runtimes:

• i. .NET Runtime 8.0.6
• ii. ASP.NET Core Runtime 8.0.6
• iii. .NET Desktop Runtime 8.0.6
• iv. Language support: C# 12.0, F# 8.0, Visual Basic 16.9.

Overall features .NET 8.0:

1. C# 12.0 features:

a. Primary Constructors:

• i. You can now create primary constructors in any class and struct, not just record types.
• ii. Primary constructor parameters are in scope for the entire class body.
• iii. Explicitly declared constructors must call the primary constructor using this() syntax.
• iv. Adding a primary constructor prevents the compiler from declaring an implicit parameterless constructor.

b. Collection Expressions:

• i. A terse syntax to create common collection values.
• ii. You can inline other collections using the spread element
• iii. Works with array types, System.Span<T>, and types supporting collection initializers (e.g., List<T>).

c. Default Parameters for Lambda Expressions:

• i. Define default values for parameters in lambda expressions.

d. Alias Any Type:

• i. Introduces syntax to alias any type, making code more expressive.

2. .NET core 8.0 features:

a. Blazor Enhancements:

• i. Blazor is now a full-stack web UI framework, supporting static server rendering (SSR), interactive server rendering (ISR), and WebAssembly rendering.
• ii. The new Blazor Web App template combines Blazor Server and Blazor WebAssembly capabilities, including static SSR, streaming rendering, enhanced navigation, and form handling.

b. Authentication and Authorization:

• i. ASP.NET Core 8.0 adds improvements to authentication and authorization.
• ii. New Identity API endpoints (/register and /login) are available for building authentication workflows.

c. HTTP Caching Issues:

• i. A new article addresses common HTTP caching issues when upgrading Blazor apps across major versions.

d. Class Libraries with Static SSR:

• i. Learn how to create component libraries in Razor class libraries (RCLs) with static server-side rendering (static SSR).

e. Other Enhancements:

• i. Generic attributes for MVC.
• ii. Enhanced form binding for Minimal APIs.
• iii. SignalR stateful reconnect.
• iv. Keyed Services Support in Dependency Injection.

3. Entity framework 8.0 features:

a. Complex Types:

• i. EF Core 8.0 introduces support for complex types. These are structured objects that hold multiple values but have no key defining identity.
• ii. Complex types are not tracked by key value and must be defined as part of an entity type.
• iii. They can be either .NET value types or reference types and can be shared by multiple properties.

b. Primitive Collections:

• i. EF Core 8.0 allows you to work with collections of primitive types (e.g., arrays, lists) more efficiently.
• ii. You can use these collections directly in your entity models, simplifying data modeling.

c. JSON Column Enhancements:

• i. Further JSON support in relational databases.
• ii. Use JSON to send multi-value parameters for translations (e.g., List.Contains).
• iii. Leverage JSON for mapping and querying collections of primitive types, value objects, and hierarchical data.

d. HierarchyId Support:

• i. EF Core 8.0 introduces a new HierarchyId type for SQL Server.
• ii. This type enables efficient hierarchical data storage and query.

e. Raw SQL Queries for Unmapped Types:

• i. Run queries against databases you do not control without setting up a full ORM.
• ii. Execute raw SQL queries for unmapped types.

f. Lazy Loading for No-Tracking Queries:

• i. Lazy-loading support even when using no-tracking queries.

g. DateOnly & TimeOnly Support:

• i. Added support for DateOnly and TimeOnly types for SQL Server and Azure SQL.

4. Blazor enhancements coming with .NET 8:

a. Full Stack Web UI:

• i. In .NET 8, Blazor’s WebAssembly and Server models merge into a harmonious union.
• ii. You will build full-stack web apps that render content at either the component or page level.
• iii. Static Server rendering (static SSR) generates static HTML on the server, improving performance and user experience.

b. Enhanced Navigation:

• i. Progressive enhancements minimize page load times while balancing performance.
• ii. Form handling and streaming rendering of asynchronously-generated content further optimizes Blazor apps.

c. Rendering Modes:

• i. Say goodbye to the hosting model dilemma!
• ii. Components from different hosting models (WebAssembly, Server, Hybrid) are now more interchangeable.
• iii. Blazor’s versatility allows you to choose the right approach for your app.

5. Windows forms .NET 8.0:

a. Data Binding Improvements:

• i. A new data binding engine, inspired by WPF, simplifies MVVM design principles.
• ii. You can now fully utilize the MVVM pattern and share code between Windows Forms and other .NET GUI frameworks like WPF, UWP/WinUI, and .NET MAUI.

b. Button Commands:

• i. Button commands, like WPF, are now fully enabled.
• ii. Assign an object implementing the ICommand interface to a button’s Command property.
• iii. Buttons listen to ICommand.CanExecuteChanged, enabling dynamic enable/disable behavior.

c. Visual Studio DPI Improvements:

• i. Visual Studio 2022 (17.8) introduces DPI-unaware designer tabs.
• ii. You can now ensure the designer runs at the same scale as your app, whether DPI-aware or not.
• iii. No more blurry Visual Studio when scaling is applied in Windows.

d. High DPI Enhancements:

• i. High DPI rendering with PerMonitorV2 has been improved.
• ii. The VB.NET project template defaults to DPI SystemAware settings for high-resolution displays (e.g., 4K monitors).
• iii. The default font now aligns with Windows design recommendations

How can I upgrade my existing project to .NET 8.0?

a. Update the .NET SDK version in global.json:

• i. If you have a global.json file specifying a specific .NET Core SDK version, update the version property to match the installed .NET 8.0 SDK version1.
• ii. Example:

b. Update the target framework:

• In your project file (e.g., .csproj, .vbproj, or .fsproj), change the <TargetFramework> property to net8.0:

c. Update package references:

• In the project file, update package references for Microsoft.AspNetCore.*, Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.*, Microsoft.Extensions.*, and System.Net.Http.Json to version 8.0.0 or later:

Wrapping Up

It’s critical for developers to keep up with the most recent developments and industry best practices as the.NET ecosystem is always changing.

Although.NET 7 and.NET 8 provide great capabilities and enhancements, .NET Core 8 is the most appealing choice for developers who want to ensure that their apps are future-proof. This updated version offers a strong base upon which to build contemporary apps. The vast feature set of.NET 8 Preview 4 demonstrates Microsoft’s dedication to provide a stable and expandable web application development environment.

With the help of a top.NET web application development firm, embrace these upgrades as ASP.NET Core prepares the way for the next generation of web applications and discover new prospects.

For advice on whether switching from.NET 7 to.NET 8 is the best course of action, please contact our .NET development support team! Keep checking back for new releases.