Top .NET Core Resources
Tags: netcore, continuallearning
Published: 2018-11-30 14:12:19

---
title: Top .NET Core Resources
published: true
description: .NET Core is moving pretty fast, but where can you go to learn about it?
tags: .NET Core, continual learning
cover_image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1519389950473-47ba0277781c?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&s=47d2b1f32cc05c976af4a39256e01cba&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1950&q=80
---

Just over two years ago, .NET Core (or as it was known just before then dnx) was brand new. It's been two years, and a whole slew of versions have flown by. The current LTS version (as I type this) is 2.1.6.

Oh, and did I say that the entire thing is open source? That's right, Microsoft's flagship application SDK and runtime are both open source and cross platform.

> Say what?!

But for folks who have no clue what .NET Core is but want to learn it, where can you turn to?

_psst: to jump directly to the list, [click here](#the-list)_

### An Intro of Sorts

As a quick aside, I've been [writing](https://dotnetcore.gaprogman.com) and [podcasting](https://dotnetcore.show/) about .NET Core (and all of the other things related to .NET Core) for about 2 years.

_I've only been podcasting about .NET Core for a few months, though_

As such, I'm sometimes asked my opinion on how folks can go about learning all about .NET Core. Such as when my good friend Matthew asked me on Twitter:

{% twitter 1067544439298625537 %}

Ok, so the first thing that I did was launch into a little self promotion. But that's allowed, right?

Anyway, the resulting tweets got me thinking about how I could share my top .NET Core resources for folks who want to learn all about it. So...

### The List

In no particular order:

- [The MVA courses](https://mva.microsoft.com/learning-path/asp-net-core-2-0-23)

Microsoft have a wonderful resource called the Microsoft Virtual Academy. This is a free resource of exercise lead tutorial videos, presented by Microsoft engineers which are designed to get you up to speed with all of Microsoft's technologies.

I would start with the Beginner course, even if .NET is old hat to you because there are a number of changes and gotchas that almost anyone can fall into.

- [Exploring .NET Core](https://shortener.manning.com/rBPe)

This is a **free** eBook from Manning Publishing which consists of a number of hand picked chapters from other eBooks. [Dustin Metzgar](https://twitter.com/DustinMetzgar) is the author (curator?) of this free eBook, and it covers everything from .NET Core itself to ASP.NET Core, EF Core and a little on Micro-services.

_as a side note: Dustin is a fantastic person and was on an [early episode of my podcast](https://dotnetcore.show/episode-3-corewf-with-dustin-metzgar/) - oops, I said that I wouldn't self promote_

- [.NET Escapades](https://andrewlock.net/)

This is a blog written by Andrew Lock. Andrew is a lot of things, and curious is one of them. His blog posts (along with those by [Steve Gordon](https://www.stevejgordon.co.uk/)) are some of the best deep dives I've ever read.

He's also written a book on ASP.NET Core called [ASP.NET Core in Action](https://www.manning.com/books/asp-net-core-in-action)

_psst: connect with me on twitter, and I can get you a discount code this one_

Both his blog and book should be on anyone's reading list, due to the sheer amount of useful information contained within them.

- [Scott Hanselman's Blog](https://www.hanselman.com/blog/)

I can't talk about .NET Core resources without talking about Scott. He's one of the  community outreach, program manager, developer types at Microsoft and his blog posts are amazing.

Did I also mention that he works on the .NET team? Talk about insider information!

- [Ardalis](https://ardalis.com/blog)

Steve Smith is another person on this list who I've had the pleasure of interviewing for my podcast

_I promised that I'd shut up about that, right?_

and his blog (along with [his podcast](http://www.weeklydevtips.com/)) is full of developer tips and useful insights. You can tell that Steve is a .NET Core developer, but his tips are technology agnostic.

### Just a Few

These are just a few of my top .NET Core resources. I could literally go on for pages and pages, but I wont.

I've left out things like PluralSight courses, conference talks, and podcasts. I could totally write another post just on those topics.

_although, my podcast is the only one specifically about .NET Core. Most of the others are related to .NET as a whole_

What I'm most interested in, is what are your top .NET Core resources? Are they blogs, books, videos, courses, or podcasts? Let's share these resources and give everyone a chance to enjoy .NET Core.

As Scott Hanselman says (in the foreword of Dustin's book "[.NET Core in Action](https://www.manning.com/books/dotnet-core-in-action)"):

> This isn't my .NET Core, it's everyone's .NET Core.

So, in the words of the giant heads in Rick and Morty:

> Show me what you got!