by DeeDee Walsh, on Jul 31, 2023 9:25:22 PM
Discover the latest features and updates in the highly anticipated .NET 8 release. Note: I got some grief on Twitter that this is too "summarized" and sounds like a bot wrote it. Click here to go to the Microsoft unsummarized version.
Microsoft's .NET 8 is coming soon and this one's gonna be great. Good news is that .NET 8 comes with long-term support (LTS) and is so packed with useful enhancements you're going to want to immerse yourself in this version. You can download .NET here.
Unpacking the Exciting New Features of .NET 8
Let's dive in and explore what's new!
Performance Boosts
First up, .NET 8 has undergone a serious performance upgrade. From faster startup times to improved throughput and memory usage, Microsoft has been thorough in their quest to optimize the .NET experience.
C# 10 and New Language Features
This release also includes C# 10, which brings with it a slew of new language features. These include global using directives, file-scoped namespaces, and enhanced pattern matching, all designed to make coding in C# more intuitive and efficient.
Crossgen2 and Single-file Applications
.NET 8 introduces Crossgen2, a new version of the ahead-of-time (AOT) compiler, promising better code generation and ease of use. The single-file application model has also been improved, allowing developers to bundle all dependencies and the runtime into one neat package.
Hot Reload and Improved Containers
The new Hot Reload feature is a game-changer, allowing developers to modify code while an application is running, without the need to manually pause or hit a breakpoint. Container support has also been enhanced, with better diagnostics, support for Windows Server containers, and improved performance.
Support for Apple Silicon and New APIs
In a nod to the growing popularity of Apple's new hardware, .NET 8 adds support for Apple Silicon (Arm64) chips. The release also introduces new APIs and enhancements to existing ones, including DateOnly and TimeOnly types, improved JSON support, and better HTTP/3 support.
Blazor Updates and Minimal APIs
Blazor, the framework for building interactive web UIs with C#, has received a significant update, including error boundaries, dynamic components, and support for minimal APIs. Speaking of Minimal APIs, this new feature allows developers to create HTTP APIs with minimal code, making it simpler and easier than ever to build powerful, flexible APIs.
Improved Globalization and Visual Studio
Finally, .NET 8 brings improvements to globalization, including better support for different cultures and improved performance for globalization-related operations. And let's not forget that .NET 8 comes bundled with Visual Studio, which itself includes a host of improvements and new features for .NET developers.
.NET 8 is a significant step forward for the .NET ecosystem, bringing a wealth of new features and improvements that will benefit developers of all stripes. Whether you're a seasoned .NET veteran or a newcomer to the platform, there's never been a better time to dive in and start exploring what .NET 8 has to offer.
Remember, this is just a high-level overview. For a deep dive into each of these features, I recommend checking out the official .NET 8 documentation.
