From .NET Blog · 22 stories
Meta Introduces Hybrid Asset Classification for Privacy-Aware Infrastructure
Meta has unveiled a hybrid asset classification strategy using large language models (LLMs) to handle ambiguous data in privacy-aware infrastructure while maintaining deterministic rules for enforcement. This method addresses the complexities of AI-native products with varied data inputs, ensuring compliance and effective data governance. It is a response to the challenges posed by the increasing speed and scale of AI innovations, and the approach aims to better manage privacy controls for evolving AI products.
C# 15 Preview Introduces Union Types, Closed Hierarchies, and Updated Unsafe Model
C# 15, set to release with .NET 11 in November, is now available in .NET 11 preview 7, introducing features like union types, closed hierarchies, and an updated unsafe model. These additions enhance type system expressiveness and control over inheritance, impacting how developers define and manage data structures.
Model Context Protocol (MCP) 2026-07-28 Specification Released, Adopting Stateless Core
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) has released its 2026-07-28 specification, transitioning from a bidirectional stateful protocol to a request/response stateless core. This update, the largest revision since its launch, aims to improve reliability and scalability for MCP servers, addressing a highly requested developer feature. Major SDKs, including TypeScript, Python, and C#, have been updated to support the new specification.
.NET 11 Preview 7 Released with Updates Across Libraries, Runtime, SDK, and Frameworks
Microsoft has released .NET 11 Preview 7, introducing improvements across various components including libraries, the .NET Runtime, SDK, C#, ASP.NET Core, .NET MAUI, Entity Framework Core, F#, and Windows Forms. This preview provides developers with new features and enhancements for application development across different platforms.
.NET 11 Preview 6 Released with New Optimizations and Features
.NET 11 Preview 6 has been released, offering enhancements across several aspects like the runtime, SDK, libraries, ASP.NET Core, and .NET MAUI. New features include asynchronous validation, improved JSON serialization, and performance optimizations for future development iterations. The preview aims to improve development efficiency and capability, reflecting significant advances since the prior preview release.
Microsoft.Extensions.AI introduces new primitives for AI model routing and failover
Microsoft.Extensions.AI has released new experimental primitives for routing and failover in AI applications, addressing cost, uptime, and latency concerns. These primitives allow developers to route requests based on content or implement failover strategies for AI models and providers.
NuGet.org to Limit API Key Lifetimes to 30 Days Starting August 2026
NuGet.org will restrict new API keys to a 30-day maximum duration starting August 17, 2026, and all existing keys will expire by November 1, 2026. This change aims to reduce the risk of supply chain attacks by limiting the window of opportunity for attackers if credentials are compromised.
Open-source code-testing-generator agent released for automated unit test creation
A new open-source, polyglot agent named code-testing-generator has been released to automate the generation of unit tests. This agent learns from a repository, plans test creation, writes tests, and validates their functionality, including integration into the project's build system.
MSBuild Binlog Analyzer for VS Code integrates Copilot for build log analysis
Microsoft released the MSBuild Binlog Analyzer for VS Code, a new extension that integrates GitHub Copilot Chat to analyze MSBuild binary logs directly within the editor. This tool helps developers diagnose build failures, identify performance bottlenecks, and compare build changes without leaving their development environment.
GitHub Copilot App Introduces Interactive .NET Modernization Tools
GitHub Copilot app has introduced an interactive upgrade canvas to assist in modernizing .NET applications, providing real-time workflow management. Additionally, the new .NET Modernization for Beginners course offers hands-on guidance to help developers upgrade legacy ASP.NET applications. These changes simplify the modernization process and offer educational support for developers navigating these upgrades.
June and July 2026 .NET Updates Address Security Vulnerabilities
The .NET platform received updates in June and July 2026, focusing on addressing security vulnerabilities. While June's update included fixes for existing issues in .NET, July's update also introduced new non-security enhancements for the .NET Framework.
CoreCLR Becomes Default Runtime for .NET MAUI Mobile Apps in Preview 6
CoreCLR is now the only runtime for .NET MAUI mobile apps in Preview 6, replacing Mono. This transition enhances performance consistency across iOS, Android, and Mac Catalyst while laying the groundwork for future developments in .NET 11.
Microsoft's Binlog MCP Server Enhances Build Diagnostics via AI Integration
Microsoft has launched the Binlog MCP Server, allowing AI tools to analyze MSBuild logs for build diagnostics. This integration supports automated diagnostics in GitHub Actions, improving error tracing and performance analysis. It simplifies build failure analysis through natural language queries, benefiting developers by providing root cause explanations faster.
.NET 8 and .NET 9 will reach end of support on November 10, 2026
.NET 8 and .NET 9 will no longer receive updates or support after November 10, 2026. Microsoft recommends upgrading to .NET 10 for continued security updates and support, as both versions will leave users exposed to vulnerabilities without patches.
SkiaSharp 4.0 Released with Enhanced Features and Stability
SkiaSharp 4.148.0 is now released as the first stable version of v4, enhancing cross-platform 2D graphics in .NET. This update includes improved performance, new capabilities like animated WebP encoding, and a cleaner API, making it a significant upgrade for developers using this graphics library.
WinApp CLI Simplifies Package Identity for .NET Apps on Windows
The WinApp CLI simplifies package identity for Windows apps, facilitating integration with Windows features. It allows .NET developers to easily test apps with package identity and package applications as MSIX.
.NET Day on Agentic Modernization Livestream Set for June 2026
Microsoft Reactor will host .NET Day on June 16, 2026, focusing on modernizing .NET applications. The event aims to address cloud migration and legacy maintenance while incorporating AI-driven capabilities.
.NET Highlights from Microsoft Build 2026 Focus on AI Integration
.NET 11 showcased significant advancements including union types in C# and AI integration across applications. The sessions emphasized new features designed to enhance developer productivity and create intelligent applications in an AI-driven landscape.
.NET and .NET Framework receive August 2026 servicing updates with security fixes
Microsoft released servicing updates for .NET and .NET Framework in August 2026, including security and non-security fixes. These updates address specific CVEs and provide refreshed versions for ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework Core, and Runtime components. The updates are important for maintaining the security and stability of applications built on these platforms.
Microsoft.Testing.Platform improves test reporting for CI/CD pipelines
Microsoft.Testing.Platform (MTP) has updated its reporting features to provide inline test failure annotations in GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps, aiming to streamline the debugging process for developers. These updates, available in MTP 2.3.0 and later, integrate test results directly into developer workflows, reducing the need to search logs or download artifacts.
Optimizing GitHub Copilot for .NET Development
The article emphasizes the effective use of GitHub Copilot for .NET developers by integrating it into existing workflows. It highlights how inline completions and chat features can enhance productivity for common tasks in C# development.
Live Speech-to-Text with Foundry Local and C# for .NET 10
A new guide demonstrates how to build a C# console application for live speech-to-text transcription using Foundry Local and a specialized NVIDIA Nemotron speech model. This application processes microphone audio in real time, providing partial and final transcription results locally.