Future of ASP.NET – Is it frightening?
Tags: aspnet, aspdotnet
Published: 2023-07-14 12:34:57

In this technology-driven world, you need to update yourself with the latest technology to stand strong in this competitive market. 

After COVID-19, in this new normal world, every business wants to shift from offline to online mode. And ASP.NET is one of the application development frameworks that is helping businesses to thrive in this new-normal world. The web application framework is being used across various sectors such as E-Commerce, BFSI, Healthcare, Education and many more.

## Quick Intro of ASP.NET

ASP.NET is an open-source, web-application development framework built by Microsoft to aid [ASP .Net developers](https://thecompetenza.com/asp-net-development/) in creating dynamic websites, applications and services. Being a cross-platform framework, applications built on this framework runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, and Docker.

## Current Scenario of ASP.NET

In this technological world where technology ever changes, ASP.NET is the most prevalent programming platform. Most software development companies embrace this robust framework to build dynamic websites, web services, cloud-based web applications and other web applications. 

## Let’s have a look at the current trends in ASP.NET

➜ **Serverless Computing**

Cloud computing has been gaining popularity in the digital world. With Azure cloud, ASP.NET provides a serverless computing platform to businesses of all types. It enables developers to build high-end cloud applications.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/tp0w8yxmlu59yjmx1sgs.png)

➜ **Machine Learning Solutions**

In today’s data-driven world, machine learning plays a significant role in running business operations successfully. Many well-known companies such as Facebook, Google and Uber embrace machine learning to run their business operations.

ML.NET 1.4, a machine learning framework that enables developers to build data-driven ASP.NET applications by implementing ML algorithms.

➜ **Cross-Platform Mobile App Development**

Xamarin is an open-source cross-platform mobile app development framework for .NET. With this framework, ASP.NET developers can build responsive apps for Android, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, macOS, and Windows.

Xamarin allows ASP.NET developers to use C# programming language for back-end code such as business logic, data access and native API access. Apps based on Xamarin leverage platform-specific hardware acceleration and provide native performance.

➜ **IoT-Enabled Application Solutions**

ASP.NET developers can now leverage .NET IoT Libraries to create apps that can interact with specialized hardware such as sensors, analog-to-digital converters, and LCD devices. Enterprises can invest in lots of other IoT projects with the .NET nano framework.

➜ **Building 2D and 3D Game Development**

.NET is a component of Microsoft Game Stack. Gaming companies are investing in ASP.NET for building 2D and 3D game development. Game developers can build games for more than 25 different platforms such as Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo and so on.

## User Statistics of ASP.NET

ASP.NET has a huge userbase. More than 100,000 contributions from Microsoft itself, and over 3,700 enterprises other than Microsoft support .NET.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/1fafm83773t89dzbo5m2.png)

ASP.Net usage by websites across the globe.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/wrioxq0gvt1ui00erb8y.png)

HG Insights, a Market Intelligence provider, tracked 1,087,624 firms using ASP.NET. You can have a look at some of the big companies that are currently investing in ASP.NET. 


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/dgu6ws607gnx5njukvyc.png)

Here, the bar chart shows industry-wise usage of ASP.NET. However, the chart is not completely shown here. You can have a complete in the HG Insights.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0cku56vqt4ws1bgojbw1.png)

According to the Stack Overflow 2021 survey, ASP.NET took fifth place among the most popular web frameworks.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8kvo9cujm3y5dwt0nfqn.png)

## Future Growth of ASP.NET

With the release of .NET 6 in the recent past, the future looks quite great.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0lzm3iz7p3yub0vpzzc0.png)

Have a look at the below roadmap of .NET, Microsoft team is consistently working on it to improve and bring something new to the table every time.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/b96e83gg7uakbn3mvygh.png)

Below are some of the pointers that show the growth of ASP.NET in the coming future:

♦ ASP.NET developers would be able to build fast and scalable cloud applications with Microsoft Azure.

♦ With Azure cloud, businesses would not have to worry about servers and pay only for the resources their application uses while running. The Serverless Computing Market is expected to register CAGR of over 23.17% during the forecast period (2021 – 2026).

♦ With the Xamarin feature, future businesses will invest in Android and iOS app development with .NET and C#.

♦ In the future, businesses will leverage the .NET for building 2D and 3D applications such as games and simulations.

♦ With ML.NET 1.4, enterprises would witness tons of AI applications.

♦ In the near future, ASP.NET will run smoothly on Docker. This would assist developers to faster deploy ASP.NET-based applications.

♦ By implementing.NET IoT libraries in .NET framework, developers would create apps that run on IoT devices.

## Should Businesses Develop Their Project with ASP.NET?

Irrespective of the size of an enterprise, ASP.NET is the go-to technology for building applications for businesses.

Without any iota of doubt, ASP.NET is one of the go-to technologies to meet enterprise application needs. Enterprises can meet organizational goals and solve business challenges with the ASP.NET application development solutions 

ASP.NET provides a host of benefits to your business. This robust application development framework is perfect especially for enterprises that are looking for a leading edge in this digital world. 

Let’s take a look:

♦ High Performance Apps: Post-release of .NET 6, ASP.NET has improved performance. It performs faster than any other popular web framework. The performance report is available at TechEmpower Round 20.

♦ Secure Apps/software: ASP.NET safeguards apps from cross-site scripting (XSS) and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). It includes a user database that supports multi-factor authentication and external authentication via Google, Twitter, and other services.

♦ Diverse applications: With rich libraries and tools, businesses can develop different types of application solutions such as AI-based apps, IoT-based apps, Game development and lots more by investing in ASP.NET.

♦ Bring your Business to Cloud: ASP.NET enables businesses to build high-end cloud applications. Enterprises can now migrate their existing .NET application to the cloud by leveraging Microsoft Azure.

♦ Build High Performing Mobile Apps: Xamarin.Forms, a mobile UI framework from Microsoft for developing mobile apps such as iOS, Android, & Windows apps with .NET from a single shared codebase.

♦ Get Active Community: ASP.NET has many active communities. Businesses can get quick answers to any technical query or discuss anything on ASP.NET from active communities such as Stack Overflow, ASP.NET forums, .NET Tech Community, The .NET Docs Show and more.

## Limitation of ASP.NET

Every coin has two sides and the same goes with ASP.NET technology as well. There are a few limitations with ASP.NET.

♦ As ASP.NET is designed by Microsoft, any changes implemented by the technology giant will surely impact application development projects done on the .NET framework. 

♦ Migration of applications to .NET can be costly.

♦ Transiting applications with older versions to new versions could be long and difficult.

**Closing Words**

ASP.NET is one of the popular technologies in this technology-driven world. Microsoft has been striving hard to come up with new updates and upgrades in this popular framework to serve the ever-growing ASP.NET development needs. With high-end in-built features, ASP.NET will soar high and will be the choice for many more enterprises in the near future.

If you are willing to build responsive mobile apps, dynamic websites or any cloud-based applications for your clients, ASP.NET has a host of amazing features to make your product and services secure, reliable, and scalable.

[Originally published](https://thecompetenza.com/asp-net-future/)