.NET  

What You Need to Know about .NET 10

What is .NET 10?

.NET 10 is the newest version of a tool that developers use to build applications. Think of it like a toolbox that has better tools, faster tools, and new tools inside it.

Microsoft released it in November 2025, and they promise to support it for 3 years . This is called LTS (Long-Term Support), which means it's safe to use for important projects.

Why Should You Care?

.NET 10 is faster , more secure , and easier to use than older versions.

1. Things Run Faster Now

Speed Improvements

Your applications will run faster without you changing any code. Here's why:

  • Better code execution : The system that runs your code is smarter now. It does less work to do the same thing.

  • Less memory used : Your application won't need as much memory. This means less garbage collection (cleaning up unused memory).

  • Hardware support : It can use new processor features for math and data work.

Real numbers:

  • Some code runs 80% faster

  • Uses 73% less memory in certain cases

  • Apps start 75% faster with special compilation

Startup Speed

If you compile your code ahead of time (called NativeAOT), your app will:

  • Start very quickly

  • Use less computer power

  • Be smaller in size

This is great for:

  • Serverless functions (like AWS Lambda)

  • Containers and Docker

  • Websites that need to handle many requests

2. New C# Language Features

C# 14 has new shortcuts to make coding easier.

The field Keyword

Instead of writing this:

  
    private string _name;
public string Name
{
    get => _name;
    set => _name = value;
}

You can now write this:

  
    public string Name
{
    get;
    set => field = value?.Trim(); // field is automatic!
}

This saves you from writing the private string _name; line.

Easier Lambda Functions

You can now add ref , in , or out to parameters directly:

  
    // Before: Had to write types
Func<int, int> add = (ref int x) => x + 1;

// Now: Simpler
var add = (ref int x) => x + 1;

Better nameof Usage

You can use nameof with generic types:

  
    string typeName = nameof(List<>); // Returns "List" without needing <T>

3. Web Development Gets Better (ASP.NET Core)

Passwordless Login (Passkeys)

No more password headaches! You can now let users login using:

  • Windows Hello

  • Face ID (on phones)

  • Fingerprint

  • Security keys

It's built-in and ready to use.

Blazor Improvements

Blazor is for building interactive web pages with C#.

What's better:

  • Faster loading : The download size is smaller by 76% (from 183 KB to 43 KB)

  • Smart caching : The browser remembers what it already has

  • Better forms : Validation on complex forms works better

Better API Documentation

APIs now use OpenAPI 3.1 by default, which means better documentation and tooling.

4. Databases Get AI Powers (EF Core)

Vector Search

This is for AI things like semantic search. You can ask "show me articles similar to this one":

  
    // Find similar blog posts using AI embeddings
var similarPosts = context.Blogs
    .OrderBy(b => EF.Functions.VectorDistance("cosine", b.Embedding, myVector))
    .Take(3)
    .ToList();

This works with:

  • Azure SQL

  • SQL Server 2025

Hybrid Search

Combine regular search with AI search:

  
    // Find posts using both keyword search AND AI similarity
var results = await context.Blogs
    .OrderBy(x => EF.Functions.Rrf(
        EF.Functions.FullTextScore(x.Contents, "database"),
        EF.Functions.VectorDistance(x.Vector, myVector)))
    .Take(10)
    .ToListAsync();

You can:

  • Use any AI model (OpenAI, local, etc.)

  • Cache AI responses

  • Track what your AI does (observability)

6. Mobile Apps Get Better (.NET MAUI)

More Choices for Picking Files

MediaPicker now lets you:

  • Pick multiple files at once

  • Compress images automatically

Better Web Views

You can now:

  • Change HTTP headers

  • Block certain requests

  • Serve files from your app instead of the internet

Support for New Android Versions

Works with Android API 35 and 36 (newest Android versions)

7. Security: Quantum-Proof Encryption

Computers in the future (quantum computers) might break today's encryption. .NET 10 has new encryption types that are safe from quantum computers:

  • ML-KEM : For secure key exchange

  • ML-DSA : For digital signatures

  • SLH-DSA : For authentication

  
    if (MLDsa.IsSupported)
{
    using var mlDsa = MLDsa.Create();
    // Use new encryption algorithm
}

Think of this like upgrading your locks now before super-thieves arrive!

8. New Tools and Commands

Build Container Images Without Docker

  
    dotnet publish --arch x64 --os linux /t:PublishContainer

Your app is now in a container image!

Tab Completion

Type dotnet and press Tab to see all options. Works in Bash, PowerShell, and Zsh.

CLI Help

  
    dotnet --cli-schema

Get detailed info about what commands do.

9. Other Languages Get Updates

F#

  • Faster builds with parallel compilation

  • Better support for warnings

  • Improved type checking

Visual Basic

  • Better compatibility with runtime

  • Cleaner overload resolution

10. Desktop Apps (Windows Forms & WPF)

Windows Forms

  • Better clipboard support

  • Better compatibility with old .NET Framework code

WPF

  • Faster performance

  • Fluent design improvements

  • Bug fixes

Should You Upgrade to .NET 10?

Yes, if you:

  • Are starting a new project

  • Need better performance

  • Want to use AI features

  • Need 3 years of support

  • Want modern security (quantum-safe)

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