.NET Core App Development: Best Practices

ASP.NET Core is a free, open-source, cross-platform web framework developed by Microsoft and is a popular choice for building modern web applications and APIs. It allows developers to build high-performance applications for various platforms, including Linux and macOS. With its flexible architecture and extensive set of libraries and tools, .NET Core has become a popular choice for developing modern applications. ASP.NET Core provides a lightweight and modular architecture that allows developers to build applications that can be deployed on various servers and operating systems. ASP.NET Core has a rich set of built-in features that simplifies the development process, such as dependency injection, middleware, and routing. Overall, ASP.NET Core is a powerful and flexible web framework that provides developers with the tools they need to build modern, scalable, and cross-platform applications. However, building a .NET Core scalable, maintainable, and efficient app requires following a set of best practices.

In this blog, I'll explore some of the best practices for .NET Core app development that can help you build robust and efficient applications:

1. Avoid Blocking Calls: When building .NET Core applications, programmers should avoid blocking calls. Blocking calls can cause the application to become unresponsive, leading to poor performance and user experience. Instead, developers should use asynchronous programming techniques, such as async/await, to handle long-running operations without blocking the main thread. This approach allows the application to remain responsive while the process is running in the background, improving the overall performance and user experience.

2. Use Cache: Another best practice tip for developing .NET Core-based apps is to use cache. Caching can significantly improve the performance of an application by reducing the number of requests made to the server. Depending on the application's needs, developers can use in-memory caching, distributed caching, or even client-side caching. Caching can store frequently accessed or stored data that takes a long time to compute.

3. Use Response Caching Middleware: Response caching middleware is another effective way to improve the performance of .NET Core applications. This middleware caches HTTP responses, reducing the number of requests made to the server and improving the response time for subsequent requests. By caching responses, developers can provide faster and more responsive applications to their users. Additionally, response caching middleware can be configured to automatically invalidate the cache when data is updated, ensuring that users always see the most up-to-date information.

4. Minimize Large Object Allocations: Programmers working on .NET Core apps must minimize large object allocations to avoid performance issues. Allocating large objects can cause the garbage collector to work more frequently and for extended periods, reducing application performance. Additionally, allocating large objects on the heap can cause memory fragmentation, impacting the application's usage and performance. To mitigate these issues, developers should avoid giving important things whenever possible and instead use object pooling or recycling techniques to reuse objects and minimize garbage collection.

Building high-performing and scalable .NET Core applications requires adherence to best practices such as using asynchronous programming techniques, caching, and avoiding blocking calls. Implementing these practices will help developers build responsive, efficient, and user-friendly applications. Partnering with an experienced ASP.NET development company can also help ensure your application is made to the highest standards and optimized for performance. By following these best practices and working with a trusted development partner, businesses can deliver robust and reliable .NET Core applications that meet the needs of their users.