10 Must-Know Highlights from .NET 9

.NET 9 brings a lot of great features and improvements and can change the way developers write code for cloud-native apps, with an increase in performance. For details and examples, here one can follow:

1. Enhanced JSON Serialization Options

Serialization in .NET 9 offers more flexibility with customizable JSON output. You can now easily customize indentation characters and their size for more readable JSON files.

var options = new JsonSerializerOptions
{
    WriteIndented = true,
    IndentationSize = 4
};

string jsonString = JsonSerializer.Serialize(yourObject, options);

2. LINQ Innovations

LINQ is enhanced with CountBy and AggregateBy methods, simplifying key-based aggregation without unnecessary groupings.

var wordFrequencies = text.Split()
                          .CountBy(word => word)
                          .OrderByDescending(freq => freq.Value);

foreach (var word in wordFrequencies)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{word.Key}: {word.Value}");
}

3. Priority Queue Updates

The new Remove method in PriorityQueue allows for priority updates, a boon for those implementing complex algorithms.

var priorityQueue = new PriorityQueue<string, int>();
priorityQueue.Enqueue("Item1", 1);
priorityQueue.UpdatePriority("Item1", 2); // Simplified API concept

4. Cryptography Enhancements

Cryptography has seen the addition of one-time hash methods and the introduction of the MAC (message authentication code) algorithm, which streamlines cryptographic operations.

byte[] data = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("Hello, World!");
byte[] hash = CryptographicOperations.HashData(HashAlgorithmName.SHA256, data);

5. Assembly and Reflection Advances

AssemblyBuilder now supports the saving of dynamically created types, expanding reflection capabilities.

var assemblyBuilder = AssemblyBuilder.DefinePersistedAssembly("MyDynamicAssembly");
// Use assemblyBuilder to dynamically create types

6. JIT Compiler Performance

.NET 9’s 64-bit Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler includes optimizations designed to improve application performance, such as improved loop handling and method inlining. These improvements to the compiler are part of .NET’s ongoing efforts to increase runtime efficiency and application speed.

7. Arm64 Vectorization

Arm64 hardware experiences significant throughput improvements due to the new vectorization capabilities of the .NET libraries. This update provides faster processing and improved performance, particularly for applications running on Arm64-based platforms.

8. Parallel Test Execution

Unit testing in .NET 9 utilizes MSBuild’s parallel processing capabilities, enabling tests to run simultaneously on different target frameworks. This feature shortens testing times and enhances the development process.

9. Improved Terminal Logger

The terminal logger for test results has been enhanced, providing more detailed and user-friendly output during and after test execution. This improvement is aimed at making test result analysis easier and more informative.

dotnet test --logger "console;verbosity=detailed"

10. Tool Roll-Forward Option

A new --allow-roll-forward flag for .NET tools addresses compatibility issues with newer .NET versions, facilitating the use of tools across different .NET iterations. This feature is a significant step toward ensuring tool longevity and usability.

dotnet tool install --global <YourTool> --allow-roll-forward

.NET 9’s focus on performance, flexibility, and developer productivity is clearly evident in these features. Whether you are optimizing your code, enhancing your security, or making sure your app is compatible across versions, .NET 9 provides a solid foundation for modern application development.

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