.NET vs .NET
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Official home of .NET release notes, support timelines, and news announcements.
Open source · MIT
The open-source runtime that runs .NET apps, plus its core libraries and the dotnet host.
The short answer
Choose .NET if you need…
- Developers who need to check which .NET version is still supported
- Teams planning upgrades to a new .NET release
- People who want release announcements and security notices via RSS or Discussions
Choose .NET if you need…
- Developers who want to read or contribute to the source of the .NET runtime and libraries
- Engineers investigating how a .NET API or runtime behavior works internally
- Contributors who want to test nightly builds via the dogfooding guide in the repo
- Developers following the .NET ecosystem who want to browse the source
Side-by-side
| .NET | .NET | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Learning resource | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 22.1k | 18.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Advanced |
| How you get it | Read it online | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | PowerShell | C# |
| Last code update | 7 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
.NET
This repository is the official place where Microsoft publishes .NET release notes, a table of which .NET versions are supported and until when, and links to news in GitHub Discussions. It is a documentation and news hub rather than a software package you install. Developers use it to track new releases, patches, and security notices for .NET.
.NET
This repository holds the source code for the .NET runtime, its class libraries, and the shared host (the dotnet command) that starts .NET apps. The README describes .NET as a cross-platform runtime for cloud, mobile, desktop, and IoT apps. Most people use it indirectly by installing official .NET releases and building apps with it.
Best for
.NET
- Developers who need to check which .NET version is still supported
- Teams planning upgrades to a new .NET release
- People who want release announcements and security notices via RSS or Discussions
.NET
- Developers who want to read or contribute to the source of the .NET runtime and libraries
- Engineers investigating how a .NET API or runtime behavior works internally
- Contributors who want to test nightly builds via the dogfooding guide in the repo
- Developers following the .NET ecosystem who want to browse the source
Strengths
.NET
- Maintained by the .NET project and linked to official install and support docs
- Lists active and upcoming versions with clear end-of-support dates in one table
- Offers RSS feeds for discussions so updates can be followed without visiting GitHub
.NET
- Cross-platform scope as described in the README
- Licensed under MIT, which the README states explicitly
- Actively maintained, with a recent push and an official Microsoft/.NET Foundation project behind it
Not ideal for
.NET
- Anyone looking for .NET software to install, since the README points to separate download and install pages
- Developers wanting source code for the .NET runtime itself, because this repo holds release notes and news rather than the main codebase, as far as the README shows
.NET
- People who only want to build a .NET app: the README points to official releases and docs for that, so installing a release is simpler than building this repo
- Beginners looking for a tutorial: the README links to external Microsoft learning resources instead of teaching material
- Anyone needing a binary download from this page: the latest release is listed with no binaries attached
Trade-offs
.NET
- Mostly links and announcements, so it does little for hands-on coding practice
- The README is truncated here, so details beyond the release table and feed list are unverified
.NET
- Building from source is a large, specialized process; the README sends you to separate workflow docs for it
- The README is largely navigation links, so detailed technical content lives elsewhere
- Primary use is through official .NET releases rather than this repo directly
Getting started
.NET
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/dotnet/runtimeFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between .NET and .NET?
.NET: Official home of .NET release notes, support timelines, and news announcements. .NET: The open-source runtime that runs .NET apps, plus its core libraries and the dotnet host. .NET suits developers who need to check which .net version is still supported, while .NET suits developers who want to read or contribute to the source of the .net runtime and libraries.
Are .NET and .NET free?
.NET: Free and open source. .NET: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, .NET or .NET?
.NET is easier to get started with (rated beginner); .NET is rated advanced and usually needs more setup.
Is .NET or .NET more popular?
.NET has more GitHub stars (22.1k) than .NET (18.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.