How to Migrate from .NET Framework to .NET Core?

With the continuous evolution of Microsoft’s .NET ecosystem, many businesses and developers are moving from the traditional .NET Framework to .NET Core (now integrated into .NET 5 and later versions). The migration offers enhanced performance, cross-platform capabilities, and long-term support. However, transitioning from .NET Framework to .NET Core can be complex and requires a strategics approach.

This blog will guides you through the key steps of migrating your applications to .NET Core, addressing potential challenges, and highlighting best practices.

Why Migrate to .NET Core?

Before diving into the migration process, let’s understand why you should consider moving to .NET Core:

1. Cross-platform support – .NET Core runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, unlike .NET Framework, which is Windows-only.
2. Performance and scalability – .NET Core is optimized for higher performance and better scalability in cloud and microservices-based applications.
3. Containerization and cloud readiness – It works seamlessly with Docker and Kubernetes, making it a preferred choice for cloud-native applications.
4. Long-term support – .NET Framework is no longer actively developed, whereas .NET Core (now .NET 5+) is the future of Microsoft’s ecosystem.
5. Open source – .NET Core is open-source, enabling community contributions and rapid innovation.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating from .NET Framework to .NET Core

Assess Your Application Compatibility

Before starting the migration, evaluate your application’s components and dependencies. Some .NET Framework libraries and APIs may not be compatible with .NET Core.

• Use .NET Portability Analyzer to check which parts of your application are not supported in .NET Core.
• Identify third-party libraries that may require an update or alternative solutions.
• Check whether your application relies on Windows-specific APIs like WCF, WebForms, or System.Drawing, which are not fully supported in .NET Core.

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Choose the Right Migration Strategy

There are different approaches to migrating to .NET Core:

• Rehosting (Lift-and-Shift) – Move your application as-is and make minimal changes. Best suited for cloud migration.
• Incremental migration – Convert different components step-by-step, starting with smaller services.
• Complete rewrite – If your application is old and has multiple dependencies, rewriting in .NET Core might be a better long-term solution.

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Upgrade Dependencies and Libraries

• Replace unsupported NuGet packages with their .NET Core-compatible versions.
• If you’re using Entity Framework, migrate to Entity Framework Core for improved performance.
• If your application relies on Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), consider using gRPC as an alternative.

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Update Project Files to SDK Format

.NET Core projects use a simplified .csproj file format. Instead of the old .NET Framework project format, update it to the .NET Core SDK-style project file.

Steps:

Open the .csproj file in a text editors.

Replace the existing structure with:

<Project Sdk=”Microsoft.NET.Sdk”>

<PropertyGroup>

<OutputType>Exe</OutputType>

<TargetFramework>net6.0</TargetFramework>

</PropertyGroup>

</Project>

Remove unnecessary <Packages> and update NuGet dependencies.

Modify Configuration Files

• If you’re using Web.config, migrate configurations to appsettings.json.
• Replace Global.asax with Startup.cs in ASP.NET Core.
• Use dependency injection for managing services instead of HttpContext.Current or ServiceLocator.

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Test and Debug Your Application

Once migration is complete:

• Unit test your application to check for errors and missing functionality.
• Use integration testing to validate the API behavior and database connections.
• Check logs using Serilog or ASP.NET Core logging middleware to capture issues.

Deploy and Optimize Your Application

• Deploy your application using Docker, Kubernetes, or Azure App Service for better scalability.
• Optimize performance by leveraging async/await, caching mechanisms, and gRPC services.
• Continuously monitor and maintain your .NET Core application using Application Insights or Prometheus.

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Challenges in Migration and How to Overcome Them

Challenge	Solution
Incompatibility of APIs	Use .NET Portability Analyzer to find alternatives.
Missing third-party libraries	Find .NET Core-compatible versions or alternatives.
Configuration changes	Migrate settings to appsettings.json.
Windows-specific dependencies	Use cross-platform alternatives like gRPC instead of WCF.
Performance issues post-migration	Optimize using profiling tools and caching techniques.

Migrating from .NET Framework to .NET Core is a strategic move that enhances performance, scalability, and cross-platform capabilities. While the migration process involves assessing compatibility, upgrading dependencies, and testing extensively, the long-term benefits outweigh the challenges.

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