NET Core and .NET 5 are both open-source, cross-platform frameworks. However, .NET 5 is the successor to .NET Core, unifying the .NET platform by combining features from .NET Framework, .NET Core, and Xamarin.
Significant differences include:
1. Improved performance: .NET 5 offers better runtime performance than .NET Core due to various optimizations.
2. Single file applications: .NET 5 supports single-file executables, simplifying deployment and distribution.
3. C# 9 support: .NET 5 introduces new language features with C# 9, such as records and init-only properties.
4. ARM64 support: .NET 5 adds native support for ARM64 processors, enabling development on devices like Raspberry Pi.
5. Blazor WebAssembly improvements: .NET 5 enhances Blazor WebAssembly’s performance and adds debugging capabilities.
Impact on existing .NET Core applications:
1. Migration: Most .NET Core applications can be migrated to .NET 5 with minimal changes, but some APIs might have been removed or replaced.
2. Compatibility: .NET 5 aims to improve compatibility with .NET Framework, making it easier to port existing applications.
3. Long-term support (LTS): .NET Core 3.1 has LTS until December 2022, while .NET 6 will be the next LTS release after .NET 5.
