Migrate from .NET Framework to .NET Core

Move to .NET 8 for cross-platform deployment, 2–3x performance improvements, and continued Long-Term Support from Microsoft.

Migration: .NET Framework to .NET Core

From .NET Framework to .NET 8 (Core)

Why Migrate

  • Cross-Platform Deployment: .NET Core runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Deploy to Linux containers and save on Windows Server licensing costs.
  • Performance Improvements: .NET Core delivers 2–3x better throughput than .NET Framework with reduced memory allocation, faster garbage collection, and optimized Kestrel server.
  • Continued Support: .NET Framework 4.8 is in maintenance mode with no new features. .NET 8 LTS receives active development, security patches, and performance improvements.

Migration Roadmap

  1. Portability Analysis (1–2 weeks): Run the .NET Portability Analyzer on your solution. Identify incompatible APIs, Windows-only dependencies, and NuGet packages that need updates.
    • Portability analysis report
    • API compatibility matrix
    • NuGet package upgrade plan
  2. Project Migration (3–6 weeks): Convert csproj files to SDK-style, update NuGet packages, replace incompatible APIs with .NET Core equivalents, and migrate from IIS to Kestrel.
    • Migrated solution building on .NET 8
    • Updated NuGet dependencies
    • Kestrel server configuration
  3. Testing & Deployment (1–2 weeks): Run the full test suite against .NET 8, benchmark performance, and deploy to Linux containers or Azure App Service.
    • Test suite passing on .NET 8
    • Performance benchmark comparison
    • Container deployment pipeline

Risks & Mitigation

  • Windows-specific APIs (Registry, WCF, WinForms) are not available in .NET Core: We identify these during the portability analysis and replace them with cross-platform alternatives or Windows Compatibility Pack shims.
  • Third-party NuGet packages do not support .NET Core: We check each package for .NET Core support and find alternatives or source-code replacements for packages that are no longer maintained.

Estimated Scope

Hours: 100–250 | Cost: $200–$500 | Timeline: 5–10 weeks

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we migrate an ASP.NET MVC application to .NET Core?
Yes. ASP.NET MVC maps closely to ASP.NET Core MVC. Controllers, models, and views migrate with moderate refactoring. Razor views are largely compatible.
What about WCF services?
WCF is not supported in .NET Core. We migrate WCF services to gRPC (for internal services) or ASP.NET Core Web API (for HTTP services).
Do we have to deploy to Linux?
No. .NET Core runs on Windows as well. However, Linux deployment enables container orchestration with Kubernetes and eliminates Windows Server licensing.