I’m thrilled to sit down with Anand Naidu, our resident development expert, who brings a wealth of knowledge in both frontend and backend technologies. With his deep insights into various coding languages and a keen eye on the latest advancements in .NET, Anand is the perfect person to guide us through the exciting updates in .NET 10 Preview 7. In this conversation, we’ll explore the innovative features like the XAML source generator, enhancements in Entity Framework Core, and the new WebSocketStream API, along with other significant improvements that developers can look forward to. Let’s dive into what makes this preview a game-changer for the development community.
How would you describe the standout features in .NET 10 Preview 7, and what excites you most about this release?
.NET 10 Preview 7, released on August 12, brings some really impressive updates to the table. I’m particularly excited about the XAML source generator for .NET MAUI, which boosts build performance and enhances tools like IntelliSense. Then there’s the improved translation mode in Entity Framework Core for parameterized collections, which tackles performance hiccups like cache misses. Also, the introduction of the WebSocketStream API is a big deal—it simplifies a lot of the grunt work in WebSocket development. Overall, this preview feels like a solid step toward making development smoother and more efficient, and I can’t wait to see how devs leverage these tools.
Can you walk us through the XAML source generator for .NET MAUI and why it’s such a significant addition?
Absolutely. The XAML source generator in .NET 10 Preview 7 is designed to optimize how XAML files are handled in .NET MAUI apps. It generates strongly typed code at compile time, which cuts down on runtime overhead and speeds up the build process. Beyond performance, it also improves the developer experience by enhancing support for tools like IntelliSense, making coding more intuitive. Plus, with the [Generated] attribute on these types, debugging and tool integration become much easier. It’s a thoughtful addition that addresses both speed and usability for developers working on multi-platform apps.
What improvements have been made to Entity Framework Core in this preview, and how do they impact performance?
In Entity Framework Core 10, part of this preview, there’s a new default translation mode for parameterized collections. Essentially, each value in a collection now gets translated into its own scalar parameter. This approach prevents the SQL code from changing just because a collection value does, which used to cause cache misses and other performance issues. By stabilizing the SQL output, it ensures better query caching and smoother execution. For developers working with complex data operations, this is a huge win as it reduces unexpected slowdowns and makes apps more responsive.
Let’s talk about the WebSocketStream API. How does it simplify the challenges developers face with traditional WebSocket implementations?
The WebSocketStream API is a fantastic addition for anyone working with WebSockets in .NET. Traditional WebSocket APIs are pretty low-level, meaning developers have to write a lot of boilerplate code for things like buffering, framing, and handling encoding or decoding. That complexity can be a real barrier, especially for apps using streaming or text-based protocols. WebSocketStream changes the game by offering a Stream-based abstraction over WebSockets. This makes it much easier to manage those tasks and integrates seamlessly with existing .NET APIs, so developers can focus on building features rather than wrestling with the underlying mechanics.
Beyond the major features, are there any smaller updates or enhancements in .NET 10 Preview 7 that developers should pay attention to?
Definitely, there are several smaller but impactful updates worth noting. For instance, on Windows, there’s a new ProcessStartInfo.CreateNewProcessGroup option that lets you launch a process in a separate group, which can be handy for managing process lifecycles. Another cool update is JsonSerializer.Deserialize now supporting PipeReader, complementing PipeWriter, which streamlines data handling. In ASP.NET Core, there’s a new configuration option called ExceptionHandlerOptions.SuppressDiagnosticsCallback that gives more control over diagnostic output in exception handling. Lastly, the APIs for passkey authentication in ASP.NET Core Identity have been refined for simplicity. These might not grab headlines, but they add a lot of polish to the developer experience.
Looking ahead, what is your forecast for the impact of .NET 10 on the development landscape once it’s fully released?
I’m really optimistic about .NET 10’s impact when it launches in November. With features like the XAML source generator and WebSocketStream, it’s clear that the focus is on performance and ease of use, which will empower developers to build more efficient and innovative applications. The Entity Framework Core updates are going to make data-heavy apps more reliable and faster, which is critical as data demands grow. I think we’ll see a wave of adoption, especially for cross-platform and real-time applications, as developers tap into these tools to push boundaries. It’s also likely to strengthen .NET’s position as a go-to platform for modern app development, competing strongly with other frameworks out there. I’m excited to see the creative solutions that emerge from this release.
