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Syed Fahad Anwar - PeerSpot reviewer
Principal System Developer at HHRC
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Stable product with efficient security features
Pros and Cons
  • "Microsoft .NET Framework’s most valuable features are web application development, RESTful services development, security, performance, and less memory footprint."
  • "The product’s reliability needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use Microsoft .NET Framework for custom application development.

What is most valuable?

Microsoft .NET Framework’s most valuable features are web application development, RESTful services development, security, performance, and less memory footprint.

What needs improvement?

The product’s reliability needs improvement. There could be fewer footprints for compiled code. Additionally, its memory management could be better. The performance should be increased as well.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Microsoft .NET Framework for eight to ten years.

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable platform. Although, we encounter memory consumption issues when there are a lot of concurrent requests. It should give error messages when it is about to reach the capacity limit.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability depends on the architecture of the custom application.

How are customer service and support?

We don’t need to contact Microsoft as many technical forums and tech programs can help and guide us with any issues.

How was the initial setup?

The product’s initial setup process is not complicated. Although, you need to have technical expertise for implementation. The time taken for deployment depends on the project requirements. For a complex project, it takes one to two days. Whereas for a simple application, it takes a few hours. It requires two to three executives for deployment and five executives, including admins, engineers, and developers, for maintenance.

What about the implementation team?

The product can be deployed in-house by getting guidance from the Internet.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Microsoft .NET Framework is free of cost. Microsoft also provides its open-source version. One can quickly deploy it if they have a server license. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

J2EE Framework is good but complicated to deploy and requires more skills. It is not straightforward compared to Microsoft .NET Framework.

What other advice do I have?

I advise others to hire technical expertise or learn the technical aspects to understand the product. It will help them leverage all the features.

I rate it a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Assistant Vice President at ZTBL
Real User
Top 5
A reliable lightweight solution for application development
Pros and Cons
    • "The solution has difficulty integrating with other products. There are no such difficulties if you have the same platform, hardware, and operating system."

    What needs improvement?

    The solution has difficulty integrating with other products. There are no such difficulties if you have the same platform, hardware, and operating system.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    We have almost 15 developers using the solution. It has reliability.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    Microsoft .NET Framework is lightweight. I work on Microsoft and Oracle platforms. Microsoft platform is easy to start working on, whereas Oracle is very difficult. Troubleshooting is complicated, whereas it's very easy with Oracle.

    The maintenance of the Microsoft platform is very tough. You can start your development after three months of your start, but in the Oracle platform, it is not so easy. You will learn it; then you will start. There is no such difficulty when you start it. It is very easy.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is complex and takes time.

    When the development team deploys a new application, they prepare a new server. It is a very complicated task. It has dependencies.

    What other advice do I have?

    More than one person is required to maintain the solution.

    Microsoft .NET Framework is a mature application. More than 50% of applications are on .NET Framework.

    Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    Microsoft .NET Framework
    October 2024
    Learn what your peers think about Microsoft .NET Framework. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2024.
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    Roger-Morera - PeerSpot reviewer
    Developer at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    Highly versatile, dynamic, and versatile
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable feature is customization."
    • "Microsoft could improve .NET Framework by providing more resources to help users understand the solution."

    What is our primary use case?

    I use this solution with data from different applications to obtain data from files, apply business roles, and obtain different behaviors of the data. I also use it to transform and apply valuations and to send information through SMS or certified email.

    How has it helped my organization?

    .NET Framework saves us cost and time, provides quality and accuracy, and improves our security.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable feature is customization.

    What needs improvement?

    Microsoft could improve .NET Framework by providing more resources to help users understand the solution. I would also like Microsoft to add an additional monitoring tool - for example, when we develop a robot using .NET, we need too many people following the area of the robot.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    There have been some issues with the running application crashing.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability is good.

    How are customer service and support?

    Microsoft's technical support is good.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is quite complex and requires someone with technical skills to complete it. The minimum time for setup is three weeks.

    What about the implementation team?

    We used an in-house team.

    What was our ROI?

    .NET Framework is a good tool to add value to our company.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    We pay around $450 for our license.

    What other advice do I have?

    .NET Framework is very versatile and dynamic and allows us to change properties and customize the controls. If you're familiar with programming, you can go ahead with all the functionality and create new products. I would rate .NET Framework nine out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    PraveenKumar27 - PeerSpot reviewer
    QA Lead at Paytm
    Real User
    Top 5
    Useful for automation and is a good investment, but it is difficult to learn
    Pros and Cons
    • "The solution is easy to use if the user is a developer or some technical person."
    • "The solution is difficult to learn if someone is learning it for the first time."

    What is our primary use case?

    I use the product only for automation.

    What is most valuable?

    Our usage was limited. Microsoft .NET Framework is a good investment.

    What needs improvement?

    The solution is technical. A new user cannot use it. The solution is difficult to learn if someone is learning it for the first time. It is difficult for non-technical people.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The tool was stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Around 20 to 25 developers used the tool in our organization.

    What about the implementation team?

    The solution was deployed by the vendor.

    What other advice do I have?

    Only developers can use the tool. We have used Microsoft .NET Framework for web-based applications. If someone is planning to use the tool for the first time, they must learn the basics of .NET. They must go through some manual or training. The solution is easy to use if the user is a developer or some technical person. It’s a good application. Overall, I rate the product a six to seven out of ten.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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    PeerSpot user
    CTO at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
    Real User
    A free comprehensive solution to build applications with low entry barrier
    Pros and Cons
    • "Microsoft .NET Framework reduces the cost of entry and enables the development of applications with mature and enterprise features, thereby lowering the entry barriers."
    • "The learning curve could be improved."

    What is our primary use case?

    I work in the supply chain and transportation space. NET Framework is the core part of the technology stack. We had to build everything, including the Windows system.

    We could spend more time building the application than building the framework. We've been using it since V1, and .NET has grown and changed multiple times in different directions. It brings more to the table each time, so we need to build less and less. If you think about containerization, you get that from the .NET framework.

    What is most valuable?

    Microsoft .NET Framework reduces the cost of entry and enables the development of applications with mature and enterprise features, thereby lowering the entry barriers.

    What needs improvement?

    The learning curve could be improved.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Microsoft .NET Framework since its inception.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The product is stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The solution’s scalability is good. We use the .NET Framework as a stack component in our project to develop software. Everyone from cybersecurity personnel and architects to customer service support uses this application.

    How are customer service and support?

    There is a community providing solutions. Many others encounter the same issue with .NET and search for solutions online through Google.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is very easy. We can usually get something spun up and running in a day.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The product is free.

    What other advice do I have?

    Microsoft .NET Framework is a framework for development. We use cryptography, messaging, and many other components the platform provides for our development work. We are prototyping with the latest framework, which includes a mixed model of HTML rendering. This model is a blend of client-oriented applications, where most tasks are performed in the browser, and server-side applications, where the server renders the HTML for the web pages. The latest offering simplifies administration and development for simple pages while enabling the creation of highly interactive pages resembling control screens and back-office control centers.

    We've used ASP.NET to create web UI. You might have business rules and logic running on your server. You have databases and frameworks for interacting.

    We use C# and VB.NET on the backend and SQL for the database. The platform is good at implementing standards for web services. With .NET, there are competing standards, depending on whether it's coming from Microsoft or Oracle. The platform is very good, providing standards-based programming models.

    The ease of finding and using third-party libraries with the .NET Framework is extensive. We use some libraries, but many more are available.

    A single person is enough for the solution's maintenance.

    The .NET Framework requires maintenance like any other deployed software, with patches and updates being essential to maintain. It's important to stay updated and evaluate these patches as they often address security threats. One of the major security risks in the .NET environment arises from using outdated software with known exploits. For instance, a vulnerability discovered in a particular version becomes a security risk until patched. In such cases, a patch is released, and while most companies apply it promptly, some may lag, leaving them vulnerable to attacks. These unpatched systems become easy targets for attackers, exploiting well-known vulnerabilities. Therefore, the patching process is crucial for maintaining security.

    Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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    Founder at a non-profit with 1-10 employees
    Real User
    Lacks adequate cross-platform performance and interoperability with AS400, but is the only viable solution for non-cross-platform tasks and works smoothly with Microsoft Technologies
    Pros and Cons
    • "Microsoft Platform is the only viable solution when I wish to do something that is not supposed to be cross-platform."
    • "It is of great concern to us that the solution is not very powerful on cross platform, at it impedes the ability to build and scale with it."

    What is most valuable?

    I've been using the solution on the Microsoft Platform because it's very tied up with the Windows Server operating system, as it is with the Microsoft technologies. I would basically use the solution anytime that I wished to do something very efficient on Microsoft, building a software for example, which can be done on Microsoft Platform efficiently. I see the solution as the proper alternative to such programs as Java and Python. I prefer Microsoft.NET framework as it's actually tied with the Microsoft operating system and network.

    So, the main advantage of the solution for me is that it's really tight. It starts with the component of the server side and proceeds to accessing the database. Work with it is really smooth with Microsoft technologies. There is no worry, no bother. Microsoft technologies is really straightforward.

    Microsoft Platform is the only viable solution when I wish to do something that is not supposed to be cross-platform. This was the case later on with the .NET Core. Although we tried to obtain this on the Linux platform, we found things to be somewhat limited, as the .NET Core didn't mix very well with the Linux kernel. This is why we did not adopt it so much on Linux and prepared to do it with Python and Java, as the .NET Core was less powerful than the .NET Framework on Windows. As such, .NET Framework is better to use on Microsoft, on Windows Server. To me, Windows Server is actually the best when one wishes to do something for Windows Server but does not desire that it be cross-platform. It offers much integration. 

    What needs improvement?

    While Windows Server is always the best, the interoperability and, of course, cross-platform features could stand improvement. Ideally, the .NET Core should be made more efficient than it is at present. There is a need to be at the level of Java, for example, to truly overcome the weaknesses involved.

    Price fraction on the Linux Platform and macOs Platform should also be taken into account. Then it will really be effective on those other platforms. 

    It is of great concern to us that the solution is not very powerful on cross platform, at it impedes the ability to build and scale with it. There are many who would like to have their servers on Linux, since hosting Windows Server, even on VPS or in any hosting company, is very expensive. It will also be expensive in the long run. Keeping it secure will be expensive. It is cheaper and easier to get it secured, to get the best performances, with Linux. Most applications that our customer companies are using they wish to have on a server and then to access it from any type of tool, computer, or smartphone, which is what we would like for ourselves at the moment. Many are interested in the type of deployment whereby the application will be set on a server with web services.

    For the .NET to really be at the level of some of the tools we are using now, it is better that Microsoft should start on the .NET Core so as to make it as powerful as possible on the main Linux distributions.

    This would increase my rating of the solution.

    If Microsoft could put the .NET Core at the level of the other platform I would even rate it as a nine out ten.

    For the moment I can only give the product a rating of five out of ten since only some of the customers will be satisfied, those that have the financial resources for hosting a platform on Windows Server. They would need to finance a team that would work to keep everything running with security and to be capable of scaling up anytime they want. A dedicated strong team for this purpose costs money. 

    While there are those companies that have the money and can afford this expenditure, others that don't will opt for the cheaper solution of using Linux, which has the potential for providing the same results. 

    Moreover, I would like to have interoperability with AS400. We have not done many things with the .NET and prefer using certain other tools towards this end. When we want to work on AS400 we need to use some other tools for that on Windows. If Microsoft could resolve this issue it could attract a wider array of customers. We have very powerful software running on AS400, so the its interoperability capabilities are important to resolve.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been working with Microsoft.NET Framework for 20 years and I have been doing so since its inception. After having switched to open source I then reverted back to the solution. I have been using it since it came out with its early versions. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Microsoft has tested the solution and our experience with it has shown us that, while it is not as fast as some of our other software-devoted platforms, it is very stable. It's integrated with the platform and very stable on Microsoft Platform. There are certain applications we build on it which work very well and we do not experience downtime.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The ability to build and scale with the solution is hampered by the absence of its cross-platform capabilities.

    How was the initial setup?

    There is a need to choose the version being worked on and to obtain its appropriate components, at which point the installation will proceed as it usually does for Microsoft products. This is the point where the person must click repeatedly. The PowerShell commands can then be used. The person is presented with all the other Microsoft questions upon installation. When we work with the Linux system, we primarily prepare for use of PowerShell. 

    What other advice do I have?

    I rate Microsoft.NET Framework as a five out of ten. 

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
    PeerSpot user
    David Shlingbaum - PeerSpot reviewer
    IT Development Manager, Architect, Developer at Miltel Communications LTD
    Real User
    Top 5Leaderboard
    Rich libraries and very good development tools are key to this great solution
    Pros and Cons
    • "Ease of use, the richness of the libraries and basically very good development tools."
    • "The .NET open source community could be larger."

    What is our primary use case?

    Basically all my development work is done with .NET Framework. It's web services, data processing, get web APIs, and also web development. I work as an IT development manager and am also an architect. 

    What is most valuable?

    The ease of use, the richness of the libraries and basically the good tools are all valuable features. Most important are the very good development tools that Microsoft has, it's a good environment.

    What needs improvement?

    Things could always be a little easier and smoother. You'll sometimes find bugs but because I'm using an older version these bugs have already been fixed in later versions. The .NET open source community is very small and it would be nice if it were larger. I know Microsoft is now contributing a lot, but in other languages there's not too many frameworks that are not Microsoft. It would be good to have a richer environment for that.

    The solution could include an open source framework as an additional feature, I can't think of anything else. 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using the solution for a total of about 15 years, although I had a break from it for a while.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability is fine. 

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    I think scalability is more a matter of architecture. One of the things possibly missing is, as already mentioned, open source framework. You can use Kubernetes or something called Orleans but there's not too much richness in that area, but there are solutions. Scalability is a matter of architecture, it's not a matter of programming language.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I have an option for technical support but haven't used it. I generally find my solutions on the internet. 

    How was the initial setup?

    The new versions are really, really easy and smooth and they get their updates. I'm migrating now from an older to a newer version and the setup is very easy. The old version had some glitches. I think the setup of the tool is fairly easy.

    What other advice do I have?

    My advice is that C# is a very rich language with lots of advanced facilities, which makes it easier to develop by not being too complex. There are a lot of libraries in out-of-the- box .NET Frameworks, which gives you tools to do almost anything you need and there are extension libraries for most of the rest. It's not the same as Python which is a bit slower but has a lot of libraries because everybody writes libraries for Python. But most of the time I find what I need.

    I would rate this product a 10 out of 10. 

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Software engineer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
    Real User
    Top 20
    Ensures efficient application development and deployment while providing versatile language support, robust security model, seamless interoperability and excellent scalability
    Pros and Cons
    • "It facilitated the streamlined scheduling process by amalgamating inputs from various sources, including location data and other systems."
    • "Improvements are needed in .NET development, particularly in a backend scenario."

    What is our primary use case?

    I developed an application tailored for the oil and gas sector, focusing on risk assessment and activity mapping for wells across Brazil. This tool utilized the .NET Framework, specifically version 4.6, to ensure robust performance and seamless integration with existing systems used by oil and gas companies in the region.

    How has it helped my organization?

    The .NET Framework streamlined the integration of our enterprise-level applications by leveraging .NET service-oriented architecture. This approach simplified development as we could modularize our system into microservices, enabling us to assist each component seamlessly within the .NET environment, tailored to the specific scenario at hand.

    The .NET Framework's interoperability with other applications and its language independence has proven invaluable for our development projects. In my latest project, I developed a portal application capable of simulating various applications tailored to different user roles within the company. Using the .NET framework, I created a secure domain model to manage user authentication and bill distribution across these applications. I particularly appreciated the .NET Bot framework for its ability to quickly translate existing class models into code, facilitating rapid development and seamless integration with our database.


    The support for multiple programming languages in .NET has influenced our choice of languages for various tasks. As a team, we possess a solid understanding of .NET, making it easy to leverage its capabilities. While clients may not always have insight into the technical aspects of our work, the versatility of .NET enhances our productivity. This allows us to deliver results to clients more efficiently and encourages their active participation in the development process.


    The security model of the .NET Framework significantly contributes to the overall security of our .NET applications. This is largely facilitated by our proficient IT team, who meticulously plan and manage the infrastructure. As our .NET applications are primarily utilized within our company's intranet, security measures are inherently more manageable.

    What is most valuable?

    The features that significantly enhanced our application's performance primarily revolved around integrations. For instance, in one scenario, our application was tasked with scanning field activities within the .NET framework, encompassing both onshore and offshore operations. It facilitated the streamlined scheduling process by amalgamating inputs from various sources, including location data and other systems. Users could input data and conduct simulations within the application to assess the viability of certain activities. Additionally, the application was backed by a database running SQL scripts to support its functionalities.

    What needs improvement?

    Improvements are needed in .NET development, particularly in a backend scenario. For example, if you're planning to develop an application to track project operations using .NET, a good starting point would be to adopt domain-driven design principles. This approach allows you to visualize all the relevant components within the .NET framework for such a project. You can begin by defining the core domain entities, such as projects, tasks, and locations, leveraging .NET classes to represent these concepts effectively. Additionally, incorporating a scheduler component in .NET to manage activities associated with each project would be beneficial. By organizing these classes systematically, you can streamline the process of generating database tables directly from your code.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been working with it for almost a decade.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability is outstanding. I encountered no issues, with any concerns primarily related to infrastructure servers rather than the .NET framework itself. I would rate it nine out of ten.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability is exceptional. I would rate it nine out of ten.

    How are customer service and support?

    We didn't require support assistance as Microsoft offers ample resources, including instructional videos, for implementing and resolving any issues independently. I would rate it nine out of ten.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is straightforward. However, as operations start, a structured approach is essential. This involves establishing distinct layers of code, each with specific responsibilities aligned with the product's objectives. For example, if managing a product class, its functions should exclusively pertain to product-related tasks. Similarly, when dealing with a layer handling thousands of transactions, caution must be exercised to ensure it remains focused on its designated operations without encroaching upon other aspects of the project. This segregation of tasks ensures clarity and efficiency within the development process, despite its inherent complexity.

    What about the implementation team?

    In our web and desktop application development workflow, we typically support IT personnel by providing them with the necessary components to set up a server for deploying our applications. We hold weekly meetings to discuss our approach and progress, and throughout the week, we collaborate on various tasks. Once the work is completed, we publish the applications to the server, ensuring that all required roles are fulfilled for successful deployment.

    For deployment, we didn't have to do much as it was already completed for us. Additionally, we utilized GitLab and Jira in conjunction with Docker for streamlined deployment processes.

    What other advice do I have?

    Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
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