Visual Basic .NET - .NET Core / .NET 5+ and Cross-Platform Development in VB.NET

 

.NET Core (now continued as .NET 5, .NET 6, .NET 7 and later versions) is the modern version of the .NET platform. Earlier, VB.NET applications were mainly developed using the .NET Framework, which worked mostly on Windows. Modern .NET versions allow developers to build applications that can run on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

1. What is the Difference Between .NET Framework and Modern .NET?

The .NET Framework is the older, Windows-only platform. It is mainly used for desktop applications like Windows Forms and ASP.NET Web Forms.

.NET Core and later versions (such as .NET 6 and .NET 8) are:

  • Cross-platform (work on Windows, Linux, macOS)

  • Faster and more performance-oriented

  • Open-source

  • Actively developed and updated by Microsoft

This means developers can create applications once and run them on different operating systems.

2. VB.NET Support in Modern .NET

VB.NET is supported in modern .NET versions, but mainly for:

  • Console applications

  • Class libraries

  • Windows Forms applications

However, some newer frameworks like ASP.NET Core focus more on C#, so VB.NET support is limited in certain advanced web features.

3. Cross-Platform Development

Cross-platform development means creating software that runs on multiple operating systems without rewriting the entire code.

With modern .NET:

  • You can create console applications that run on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

  • You can publish self-contained applications that do not require separate .NET installation.

  • You can use the .NET CLI (Command Line Interface) to build and run projects from any operating system.

Example commands:

  • dotnet new console

  • dotnet build

  • dotnet run

These commands work the same way across platforms.

4. Performance Improvements

Modern .NET versions are designed for high performance. They include:

  • Improved memory management

  • Faster execution

  • Better support for cloud applications

  • Enhanced security features

This makes them suitable for modern application development, including cloud-based systems.

5. Deployment Options

Modern .NET provides flexible deployment:

  • Framework-dependent deployment (requires .NET installed on the system)

  • Self-contained deployment (includes runtime with the application)

  • Single-file publishing

  • Container support using Docker

These options make it easier to distribute applications.

6. Why It Is Important for Students

Understanding modern .NET versions helps students:

  • Build applications for multiple operating systems

  • Work on real-world, industry-level projects

  • Prepare for modern software development environments

  • Learn cloud and container-based deployment

In summary, .NET Core and later versions represent the future of .NET development. Even though VB.NET has slightly limited support compared to C#, learning how VB.NET works in modern .NET environments is essential for building scalable and cross-platform applications.