.NET Platforms Feature Comparison

Premier

March 20th, 2020

App Dev Manager, Linkai Yu builds a namespace comparison for .NET Core 3.1, .NET Core Standard 2.1, and .NET Framework 4.8 to easily visualize some of the feature differences.

I often get asked about the feature comparison among .NET Framework/.NET Core/.NET Standard during roadmap discussions for application development. There are quite a few documents and blogs about this topic that provide enough information for developers/architects to make decision, but there are situations where people would like to have a comprehensive view of the feature comparison. Instead of digging into every feature across all three platform, I compiled a list of namespaces in each platform and put them side by side so you can easily see the differences.

I copied the name spaces list for .NET Core 3.1, .NET Core Standard 2.1 and .NET Framework 4.8 from:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/index

Framework 4.8 Core 3.1 Standard 2.1 Accessibility Accessibility Microsoft.Activities.Build Microsoft.Activities.Build.Debugger Microsoft.Activities.Build.Expressions Microsoft.Activities.Build.Validation Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine Microsoft.Build.Construction Microsoft.Build.Conversion Microsoft.Build.Debugging Microsoft.Build.Evaluation Microsoft.Build.Exceptions Microsoft.Build.Execution Microsoft.Build.Framework Microsoft.Build.Framework.XamlTypes Microsoft.Build.Logging Microsoft.Build.Tasks Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Deployment.Bootstrapper Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Deployment.ManifestUtilities Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Hosting Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Windows Microsoft.Build.Tasks.Xaml Microsoft.Build.Utilities Microsoft.CSharp Microsoft.CSharp Microsoft.CSharp.Activities Microsoft.CSharp.RuntimeBinder Microsoft.CSharp.RuntimeBinder Microsoft.JScript Microsoft.JScript.Vsa Microsoft.SqlServer.Server Microsoft.VisualBasic Microsoft.VisualBasic Microsoft.VisualBasic.Activities Microsoft.VisualBasic.Activities.XamlIntegration Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices Microsoft.VisualBasic.Compatibility.VB6 Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices Microsoft.VisualBasic.Devices Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO Microsoft.VisualBasic.Logging Microsoft.VisualBasic.MyServices Microsoft.VisualBasic.MyServices.Internal Microsoft.VisualC Microsoft.VisualC.StlClr Microsoft.VisualC.StlClr.Generic Microsoft.Win32 Microsoft.Win32 Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles Microsoft.Windows.Input Microsoft.Windows.Input Microsoft.Windows.Themes Microsoft.Windows.Themes System System System System.Activities System.Activities.Core.Presentation System.Activities.Core.Presentation.Factories System.Activities.Core.Presentation.Themes System.Activities.Debugger System.Activities.Debugger.Symbol System.Activities.DurableInstancing System.Activities.DynamicUpdate System.Activities.ExpressionParser System.Activities.Expressions System.Activities.Hosting System.Activities.Persistence System.Activities.Presentation System.Activities.Presentation.Annotations System.Activities.Presentation.Converters System.Activities.Presentation.Debug System.Activities.Presentation.Expressions System.Activities.Presentation.Hosting System.Activities.Presentation.Metadata System.Activities.Presentation.Model System.Activities.Presentation.PropertyEditing System.Activities.Presentation.Services System.Activities.Presentation.Sqm System.Activities.Presentation.Toolbox System.Activities.Presentation.Validation System.Activities.Presentation.View System.Activities.Presentation.View.OutlineView System.Activities.Presentation.ViewState System.Activities.Statements System.Activities.Statements.Tracking System.Activities.Tracking System.Activities.Validation System.Activities.XamlIntegration System.AddIn System.AddIn.Contract System.AddIn.Contract.Automation System.AddIn.Contract.Collections System.AddIn.Hosting System.AddIn.Pipeline System.CodeDom System.CodeDom System.CodeDom.Compiler System.CodeDom.Compiler System.CodeDom.Compiler System.Collections System.Collections System.Collections System.Collections.Concurrent System.Collections.Concurrent System.Collections.Concurrent System.Collections.Generic System.Collections.Generic System.Collections.Generic System.Collections.ObjectModel System.Collections.ObjectModel System.Collections.ObjectModel System.Collections.Specialized System.Collections.Specialized System.Collections.Specialized System.ComponentModel System.ComponentModel System.ComponentModel System.ComponentModel.Composition System.ComponentModel.Composition.Hosting System.ComponentModel.Composition.Primitives System.ComponentModel.Composition.ReflectionModel System.ComponentModel.Composition.Registration System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema System.ComponentModel.Design System.ComponentModel.Design System.ComponentModel.Design System.ComponentModel.Design.Data System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization System.Configuration System.Configuration System.Configuration.Assemblies System.Configuration.Assemblies System.Configuration.Assemblies System.Configuration.Install System.Configuration.Internal System.Configuration.Internal System.Configuration.Provider System.Configuration.Provider System.Data System.Data System.Data System.Data.Common System.Data.Common System.Data.Common System.Data.Common.CommandTrees System.Data.Common.CommandTrees.ExpressionBuilder System.Data.Common.CommandTrees.ExpressionBuilder.Spatial System.Data.Common.EntitySql System.Data.Design System.Data.Entity.Design System.Data.Entity.Design.AspNet System.Data.Entity.Design.PluralizationServices System.Data.EntityClient System.Data.Linq System.Data.Linq.Mapping System.Data.Linq.SqlClient System.Data.Linq.SqlClient.Implementation System.Data.Mapping System.Data.Metadata.Edm System.Data.Objects System.Data.Objects.DataClasses System.Data.Objects.SqlClient System.Data.Odbc System.Data.Odbc System.Data.OleDb System.Data.OleDb System.Data.OracleClient System.Data.OracleClient System.Data.Services System.Data.Services.BuildProvider System.Data.Services.Client System.Data.Services.Common System.Data.Services.Configuration System.Data.Services.Design System.Data.Services.Internal System.Data.Services.Providers System.Data.Spatial System.Data.Sql System.Data.SqlClient System.Data.SqlClient System.Data.SqlTypes System.Data.SqlTypes System.Data.SqlTypes System.Deployment.Application System.Deployment.Internal System.Deployment.Internal.CodeSigning System.Device.Location System.Diagnostics System.Diagnostics System.Diagnostics System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis System.Diagnostics.Contracts System.Diagnostics.Contracts System.Diagnostics.Contracts System.Diagnostics.Contracts.Internal System.Diagnostics.Design System.Diagnostics.Eventing System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader System.Diagnostics.PerformanceData System.Diagnostics.PerformanceData System.Diagnostics.SymbolStore System.Diagnostics.SymbolStore System.Diagnostics.SymbolStore System.Diagnostics.Tracing System.Diagnostics.Tracing System.Diagnostics.Tracing System.DirectoryServices System.DirectoryServices System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement System.DirectoryServices.ActiveDirectory System.DirectoryServices.ActiveDirectory System.DirectoryServices.Protocols System.Drawing System.Drawing System.Drawing System.Drawing.Configuration System.Drawing.Configuration System.Drawing.Design System.Drawing.Design System.Drawing.Drawing2D System.Drawing.Drawing2D System.Drawing.Imaging System.Drawing.Imaging System.Drawing.Printing System.Drawing.Printing System.Drawing.Text System.Drawing.Text System.Dynamic System.Dynamic System.Dynamic System.EnterpriseServices System.EnterpriseServices.CompensatingResourceManager System.EnterpriseServices.Internal System.Globalization System.Globalization System.Globalization System.IO System.IO System.IO System.IO.Compression System.IO.Compression System.IO.Compression System.IO.IsolatedStorage System.IO.IsolatedStorage System.IO.IsolatedStorage System.IO.Log System.IO.MemoryMappedFiles System.IO.MemoryMappedFiles System.IO.MemoryMappedFiles System.IO.Packaging System.IO.Packaging System.IO.Pipes System.IO.Pipes System.IO.Pipes System.IO.Ports System.IdentityModel System.IdentityModel.Claims System.IdentityModel.Configuration System.IdentityModel.Metadata System.IdentityModel.Policy System.IdentityModel.Protocols.WSTrust System.IdentityModel.Selectors System.IdentityModel.Services System.IdentityModel.Services.Configuration System.IdentityModel.Services.Tokens System.IdentityModel.Tokens System.Linq System.Linq System.Linq System.Linq.Expressions System.Linq.Expressions System.Linq.Expressions System.Management System.Management.Instrumentation System.Media System.Media System.Messaging System.Messaging.Design System.Net System.Net System.Net System.Net.Cache System.Net.Cache System.Net.Cache System.Net.Configuration System.Net.Http System.Net.Http System.Net.Http System.Net.Http.Headers System.Net.Http.Headers System.Net.Http.Headers System.Net.Mail System.Net.Mail System.Net.Mail System.Net.Mime System.Net.Mime System.Net.Mime System.Net.NetworkInformation System.Net.NetworkInformation System.Net.NetworkInformation System.Net.PeerToPeer System.Net.PeerToPeer System.Net.PeerToPeer.Collaboration System.Net.PeerToPeer.Collaboration System.Net.Security System.Net.Security System.Net.Security System.Net.Sockets System.Net.Sockets System.Net.Sockets System.Net.WebSockets System.Net.WebSockets System.Net.WebSockets System.Numerics System.Numerics System.Numerics System.Printing System.Printing System.Printing.IndexedProperties System.Printing.IndexedProperties System.Printing.Interop System.Printing.Interop System.Reflection System.Reflection System.Reflection System.Reflection.Context System.Reflection.Emit System.Reflection.Emit System.Reflection.Emit System.Resources System.Resources System.Resources System.Resources.Tools System.Runtime System.Runtime System.Runtime System.Runtime.Caching System.Runtime.Caching.Configuration System.Runtime.Caching.Hosting System.Runtime.CompilerServices System.Runtime.CompilerServices System.Runtime.CompilerServices System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution System.Runtime.DesignerServices System.Runtime.DurableInstancing System.Runtime.ExceptionServices System.Runtime.ExceptionServices System.Runtime.ExceptionServices System.Runtime.Hosting System.Runtime.InteropServices System.Runtime.InteropServices System.Runtime.InteropServices System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes System.Runtime.InteropServices.CustomMarshalers System.Runtime.InteropServices.Expando System.Runtime.InteropServices.WindowsRuntime System.Runtime.InteropServices.WindowsRuntime System.Runtime.Remoting System.Runtime.Remoting System.Runtime.Remoting.Activation System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Http System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Ipc System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Tcp System.Runtime.Remoting.Contexts System.Runtime.Remoting.Lifetime System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging System.Runtime.Remoting.Metadata System.Runtime.Remoting.Metadata.W3cXsd2001 System.Runtime.Remoting.MetadataServices System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies System.Runtime.Remoting.Services System.Runtime.Serialization System.Runtime.Serialization System.Runtime.Serialization System.Runtime.Serialization.Configuration System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap System.Runtime.Serialization.Json System.Runtime.Serialization.Json System.Runtime.Serialization.Json System.Runtime.Versioning System.Runtime.Versioning System.Runtime.Versioning System.Security System.Security System.Security System.Security.AccessControl System.Security.AccessControl System.Security.Authentication System.Security.Authentication System.Security.Authentication System.Security.Authentication.ExtendedProtection System.Security.Authentication.ExtendedProtection System.Security.Authentication.ExtendedProtection System.Security.Authentication.ExtendedProtection.Configuration System.Security.Claims System.Security.Claims System.Security.Claims System.Security.Cryptography System.Security.Cryptography System.Security.Cryptography System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates System.Security.Cryptography.Xml System.Security.Cryptography.Xml System.Security.Permissions System.Security.Permissions System.Security.Permissions System.Security.Policy System.Security.Policy System.Security.Principal System.Security.Principal System.Security.Principal System.Security.RightsManagement System.Security.RightsManagement System.ServiceModel System.ServiceModel.Activation System.ServiceModel.Activation.Configuration System.ServiceModel.Activities System.ServiceModel.Activities.Activation System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration System.ServiceModel.Activities.Description System.ServiceModel.Activities.Presentation System.ServiceModel.Activities.Presentation.Factories System.ServiceModel.Activities.Tracking System.ServiceModel.Activities.Tracking.Configuration System.ServiceModel.Channels System.ServiceModel.ComIntegration System.ServiceModel.Configuration System.ServiceModel.Description System.ServiceModel.Diagnostics System.ServiceModel.Discovery System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Version11 System.ServiceModel.Discovery.VersionApril2005 System.ServiceModel.Discovery.VersionCD1 System.ServiceModel.Dispatcher System.ServiceModel.MsmqIntegration System.ServiceModel.PeerResolvers System.ServiceModel.Persistence System.ServiceModel.Routing System.ServiceModel.Routing.Configuration System.ServiceModel.Security System.ServiceModel.Security.Tokens System.ServiceModel.Syndication System.ServiceModel.Web System.ServiceModel.XamlIntegration System.ServiceProcess System.ServiceProcess System.ServiceProcess.Design System.Speech.AudioFormat System.Speech.Recognition System.Speech.Recognition.SrgsGrammar System.Speech.Synthesis System.Speech.Synthesis.TtsEngine System.Text System.Text System.Text System.Text.RegularExpressions System.Text.RegularExpressions System.Text.RegularExpressions System.Threading System.Threading System.Threading System.Threading.Tasks System.Threading.Tasks System.Threading.Tasks System.Timers System.Timers System.Timers System.Transactions System.Transactions System.Transactions System.Transactions.Configuration System.Web System.Web System.Web System.Web.ApplicationServices System.Web.Caching System.Web.ClientServices System.Web.ClientServices.Providers System.Web.Compilation System.Web.Configuration System.Web.Configuration.Internal System.Web.DynamicData System.Web.DynamicData.Design System.Web.DynamicData.ModelProviders System.Web.Globalization System.Web.Handlers System.Web.Hosting System.Web.Instrumentation System.Web.Mail System.Web.Management System.Web.Mobile System.Web.ModelBinding System.Web.Profile System.Web.Query.Dynamic System.Web.RegularExpressions System.Web.Routing System.Web.Script System.Web.Script.Serialization System.Web.Script.Services System.Web.Security System.Web.Security.AntiXss System.Web.Services System.Web.Services.Configuration System.Web.Services.Description System.Web.Services.Discovery System.Web.Services.Protocols System.Web.SessionState System.Web.UI System.Web.UI.Adapters System.Web.UI.DataVisualization.Charting System.Web.UI.Design System.Web.UI.Design.Directives System.Web.UI.Design.MobileControls System.Web.UI.Design.MobileControls.Converters System.Web.UI.Design.WebControls System.Web.UI.Design.WebControls.WebParts System.Web.UI.HtmlControls System.Web.UI.MobileControls System.Web.UI.MobileControls.Adapters System.Web.UI.MobileControls.Adapters.XhtmlAdapters System.Web.UI.WebControls System.Web.UI.WebControls.Adapters System.Web.UI.WebControls.Expressions System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts System.Web.Util System.Web.WebSockets System.Windows System.Windows System.Windows.Annotations System.Windows.Annotations System.Windows.Annotations.Storage System.Windows.Annotations.Storage System.Windows.Automation System.Windows.Automation System.Windows.Automation.Peers System.Windows.Automation.Peers System.Windows.Automation.Provider System.Windows.Automation.Provider System.Windows.Automation.Text System.Windows.Automation.Text System.Windows.Baml2006 System.Windows.Baml2006 System.Windows.Controls System.Windows.Controls System.Windows.Controls.Primitives System.Windows.Controls.Primitives System.Windows.Controls.Ribbon System.Windows.Controls.Ribbon System.Windows.Controls.Ribbon.Primitives System.Windows.Controls.Ribbon.Primitives System.Windows.Converters System.Windows.Converters System.Windows.Data System.Windows.Data System.Windows.Diagnostics System.Windows.Diagnostics System.Windows.Documents System.Windows.Documents System.Windows.Documents.DocumentStructures System.Windows.Documents.DocumentStructures System.Windows.Documents.Serialization System.Windows.Documents.Serialization System.Windows.Forms System.Windows.Forms System.Windows.Forms.Automation System.Windows.Forms.Automation System.Windows.Forms.ComponentModel.Com2Interop System.Windows.Forms.ComponentModel.Com2Interop System.Windows.Forms.DataVisualization.Charting System.Windows.Forms.Design System.Windows.Forms.Design System.Windows.Forms.Design.Behavior System.Windows.Forms.Design.Behavior System.Windows.Forms.Integration System.Windows.Forms.Integration System.Windows.Forms.Layout System.Windows.Forms.Layout System.Windows.Forms.PropertyGridInternal System.Windows.Forms.PropertyGridInternal System.Windows.Forms.VisualStyles System.Windows.Forms.VisualStyles System.Windows.Ink System.Windows.Ink System.Windows.Input System.Windows.Input System.Windows.Input System.Windows.Input.Manipulations System.Windows.Input.Manipulations System.Windows.Input.StylusPlugIns System.Windows.Input.StylusPlugIns System.Windows.Input.StylusWisp System.Windows.Input.StylusWisp System.Windows.Interop System.Windows.Interop System.Windows.Markup System.Windows.Markup System.Windows.Markup.Localizer System.Windows.Markup.Localizer System.Windows.Markup.Primitives System.Windows.Markup.Primitives System.Windows.Media System.Windows.Media System.Windows.Media.Animation System.Windows.Media.Animation System.Windows.Media.Converters System.Windows.Media.Converters System.Windows.Media.Effects System.Windows.Media.Effects System.Windows.Media.Imaging System.Windows.Media.Imaging System.Windows.Media.Media3D System.Windows.Media.Media3D System.Windows.Media.Media3D.Converters System.Windows.Media.Media3D.Converters System.Windows.Media.TextFormatting System.Windows.Media.TextFormatting System.Windows.Navigation System.Windows.Navigation System.Windows.Resources System.Windows.Resources System.Windows.Shapes System.Windows.Shapes System.Windows.Shell System.Windows.Shell System.Windows.Threading System.Windows.Threading System.Windows.Xps System.Windows.Xps System.Windows.Xps.Packaging System.Windows.Xps.Packaging System.Windows.Xps.Serialization System.Windows.Xps.Serialization System.Workflow.Activities System.Workflow.Activities.Configuration System.Workflow.Activities.Rules System.Workflow.Activities.Rules.Design System.Workflow.ComponentModel System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Compiler System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Design System.Workflow.ComponentModel.Serialization System.Workflow.Runtime System.Workflow.Runtime.Configuration System.Workflow.Runtime.DebugEngine System.Workflow.Runtime.Hosting System.Workflow.Runtime.Tracking System.Xaml System.Xaml System.Xaml.Permissions System.Xaml.Permissions System.Xaml.Schema System.Xaml.Schema System.Xml System.Xml System.Xml System.Xml.Linq System.Xml.Linq System.Xml.Linq System.Xml.Resolvers System.Xml.Resolvers System.Xml.Resolvers System.Xml.Schema System.Xml.Schema System.Xml.Schema System.Xml.Serialization System.Xml.Serialization System.Xml.Serialization System.Xml.Serialization.Advanced System.Xml.Serialization.Configuration System.Xml.XPath System.Xml.XPath System.Xml.XPath System.Xml.XmlConfiguration System.Xml.Xsl System.Xml.Xsl System.Xml.Xsl System.Xml.Xsl.Runtime UIAutomationClientsideProviders UIAutomationClientsideProviders System.Buffers System.Buffers System.Buffers.Binary System.Buffers.Binary System.Buffers.Text System.Buffers.Text System.Collections.Immutable System.IO.Enumeration System.IO.Enumeration System.Reflection.Metadata System.Reflection.Metadata.Ecma335 System.Reflection.PortableExecutable System.Resources.Extensions System.Runtime.Intrinsics System.Runtime.Intrinsics.X86 System.Runtime.Loader System.Text.Encodings.Web System.Text.Json System.Text.Json.Serialization System.Text.Unicode System.Threading.Channels System.Threading.Tasks.Dataflow System.Threading.Tasks.Sources System.Threading.Tasks.Sources

Additionally, here are some links that have more helpful information on this topic:

Portability Analyzer

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/analyzers/portability-analyzer

Immo blogged about this in his Introduction to .NET Standard 2.0:

Choose your platform:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/desktop/choose-your-platform

.NET Core is the Future of .NET

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/net-core-is-the-future-of-net/

Introducing .NET 5

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/introducing-net-5/

.NET Core Roadmap

https://github.com/dotnet/core/blob/master/roadmap.md