Upgrading .NET Framework to Modern .NET
Your application still works, but the platform it runs on stopped moving. I upgrade .NET Framework applications to current .NET in safe steps, without a risky big-bang cut-over.
Why upgrade
A platform that keeps moving
.NET Framework 4.8 still works and is supported with Windows, but it gets no new features. New libraries, security improvements and performance work go to modern .NET.
More ways to run it
Modern .NET runs on Windows, Linux and in containers. That opens cheaper hosting options and simpler, repeatable deployments.
Easier to maintain and hire for
New developers expect current .NET, modern project files and current tooling. A modern platform is easier to hand over and to grow.
What usually gets in the way
- Dependencies on System.Web: HttpContext, modules and handlers.
- WCF services and other Windows-only components.
- Third-party libraries that have no version for modern .NET.
- Windows Authentication and other Windows-specific APIs.
- Configuration in web.config files and deployments that depend on one server.
None of these is a reason not to upgrade. Each one needs a decision, and the Audit lists them all before any work starts.
How I upgrade in safe steps
- Assess Map the projects, the dependencies, the target frameworks and the APIs that do not exist in modern .NET.
- Libraries first Move the shared class libraries to .NET Standard 2.0 or multi-target them, so the old and the new application can use the same code.
- The web layer in slices A new ASP.NET Core application goes in front and forwards the routes that have not moved yet to the old one. Microsoft documents this incremental approach, with adapters for the System.Web APIs.
- Cut over and clean up Remove the forwarding and the old application, then update the build, the deployment and the hosting.
Microsoft's modernization tooling speeds up the mechanical part, but I review every change. I also use AI-assisted development to move faster, and everything is tested.
Where to start
From USD 2,000, fixed.
The Audit reviews your application in one week: risks, target architecture, a phased roadmap and a cost estimate. You decide what to do with the report.
Experience
- Callcenter Control: a call management backend for an internal call center (agent assignment, call routing, real-time reporting and performance dashboards) that I migrated from .NET Framework to .NET Core MVC.
- More than 20 years working with .NET, including the WebForms, jQuery and VB.NET era at HotelDO.com (2005–2014).
Frequently asked questions
Is .NET Framework still supported?
Yes. .NET Framework 4.8 is still supported as part of Windows, but it receives no new features. That is why new libraries, performance work and improvements happen on modern .NET.
Can both versions run side by side during the upgrade?
Yes. A new ASP.NET Core application can sit in front and forward the routes that have not moved yet to the old application, while shared code lives in libraries both can use.
Will my database have to change?
Not necessarily. Many upgrades keep the same SQL Server database and move the application code first. Schema changes are handled separately, only where they pay off.
Where do I start?
With the one-week, fixed-price Audit. You get a report on risks, target architecture, roadmap and cost, and you decide what to do next.
Ready to plan the upgrade?
Book a free 30-minute call and tell me about your application. We will see whether the Audit makes sense for your case.