Confused about .NET Core Versions in Visual Studio 2017?

If you’re a .NET developer, then you’re probably familiar with Visual Studio, Microsoft’s integrated development environment (IDE) for creating applications on Windows, web, and mobile platforms. But have you heard about .NET Core, Microsoft’s open-source, cross-platform development framework? It’s taken the .NET developer world by storm as the go-to for building modern applications across various platforms. Let’s dive into the perplexing process of changing .NET Core versions in Visual Studio 2017.

What are Different .NET Core Versions?

Before we get started with the process of changing .NET Core versions in Visual Studio 2017, it’s essential to understand why different versions matter. .NET Core is continuously evolving, and new versions are released periodically, with improvements, bug fixes, and new features. Sometimes, applications may have dependencies that require specific .NET Core versions. In those instances, the project’s .NET Core version needs to change to match the dependency.

How to Change .NET Core Versions in Visual Studio 2017?

Changing .NET Core versions in Visual Studio 2017 is relatively easy. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open the Solution Explorer

First, fire up Visual Studio 2017 and navigate to the Solution Explorer. This tab provides a hierarchical view of the projects and files within your solution.

Step 2: Select the Project

Next, select the project that you want to change the .NET Core version for. Right-click on the project name and from the context menu that appears, select “Properties.”

Step 3: Change the Target Framework

In the Properties window, go to the “Application” tab. Here, you will see an option to change the “Target Framework.” Click on the dropdown arrow next to it and choose the .NET Core version you want to use. Then click “OK” to save the changes, and Visual Studio will automatically reload the project with the selected .NET Core version.

Step 4: Verify Changes

Finally, It’s a good idea to verify that the changes were successful. Open up the project’s .csproj file, and you should see the updated “TargetFramework” property with the selected .NET Core version.

Wrap Up

Changing .NET Core versions in Visual Studio 2017 is a straightforward process that allows your project to use the correct version of .NET Core for your dependencies. By following the steps above, you can quickly switch between different .NET Core versions to suit your project’s needs.