Which project type should I choose?

[357mag]

Okay I have Visual Studio 2022 up and running and I'm faced with a choice.:

Console App (.NET Framework)
A project for creating a command line application

Or...

Console App
A project for creating a command line application that can run on .NET on Windows, Linux, and MacOS

I'm guessing I would want to choose the first one. But I'm not sure. I can say I don't have any plans on having my programs running on these other operating systems. So should I choose the first option?

 

[jmcilhinney]

They both create Console, i.e. commandline, applications but one targets .NET Framework and the other targets .NET Core, which includes .NET 5 and later. .NET Framework is still supported but it is no longer being developed, stopping at version 4.8.1. All new development is being done in .NET Core, which is now just officially referred to as .NET, because there are no longer two concurrent streams. .NET 9 is the latest stable version. Unless you have a specific reason for targeting .NET Framework, you ought to target .NET Core and the probably the latest version you can. Note also that odd-numbered version receive regular support while even-numbered versions receive extended support, so .NET 8 will be supported longer than .NET 9.

 

[Skydiver]

Another reason to pick the .NET (Core) would be gives you access to newer C# language enhancements/features. So depending on which books/tutorials you are following, they may make use language features that may not be available. Table of versions is linked below, but the key thing to keep in mind is that .NET Framework tops out at C# version 7.3.

Language versioning - C# reference

Learn about how the C# language version is determined based on your project and the reasons behind that choice.

learn.microsoft.com

 

[357mag]

So if I choose the Console Application that does not have the .NET Framework in the parentheses next to it, I would be choosing the .NET Core. Is that correct?

 

[Skydiver]

Yes