Overview of .NET Core capabilities and use cases where it works best.
".NET? That old Windows framework?" - I hear this often. Reality is different. .NET (formerly .NET Core) is today one of the fastest and most mature frameworks for building web applications, APIs, and microservices.
#1
in TechEmpower ranking for "Plaintext" - 7+ million req/s
Why .NET over Node.js or Java?
.NET pros
- Performance: 2-10x faster than Node.js in benchmarks
- Type safety with C# - fewer runtime errors
- Mature ORM (Entity Framework Core)
- Hot reload, great IDEs (Visual Studio, Rider)
- Cross-platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Docker
.NET cons
- Smaller developer pool than JS/Python
- Azure/AWS hosting pricier than VPS
- Learning curve for juniors
- Heavier cold start for serverless
- "Windows only" stereotype (no longer true)
.NET vs Node.js vs Java - benchmarks
.NET 8
7.1M req/s (TechEmpower)
Node.js
1.2M req/s
Spring Boot
~500K req/s
When to choose .NET?
1
Enterprise, fintech, healthcare
Strong typing, maintainability, mature tools. Large companies love .NET for predictability.
2
Performance is critical
High-throughput API, real-time processing, online games. .NET is objectively fast.
Considering .NET for your project?
Let's talk if it's the right choice for your case. No pressure, with concrete pros and cons.