.NET overview

Optimizely has brought .NET 8 to Configured Commerce. This lets you create a fast, scalable, and secure website to remain competitive as technologies evolve. This also gives you modern tools to keep up with your business needs.

A brief history

Configured Commerce has used .NET Framework version 4.8, which was released in 2019. While .NET Framework 4.8 continues to receive bug fixes and security patches in accordance with the .NET Framework official support policy, it no longer receives new feature development. See Microsoft's article about .NET Framework.

With the switch from .NET Framework to .NET for new feature development, Microsoft has committed to an annual release schedule, and staying up to date has many benefits for Configured Commerce customers.

.NET 8 was released in 2023, .NET 9 in 2024, and .NET 10 is scheduled for release in November of this year. Optimizely has prioritized staying up to date with the latest .NET has to offer for Configured Commerce.

Opt in

You must complete the following to opt-in:

Ensure you use build service v2.
Upgrade to 5.2.2508 or newer following the standard upgrade process.
Update your development environment as described in .NET 8.0 local development environment.
Perform the code migration to .NET 8 in your development environment as described in .NET 48 framework to .NET 8.0+ migration. Optionally, if you have GitHub Copilot Pro access, you can take advantage of AI assistance as noted in Accelerate Your .NET Upgrades with GitHub Copilot.
Initiate a support ticket to request that Optimizely perform the Change Backend to Linux action for your hosted environment.

Optimizely is sensitive to the concern that these changes require an investment in time and energy for customers and development partners. The following information is provided to help you make the best decision for your business.

Benefits

Performance – Optimizely's internal testing indicates Configured Commerce applications run up to 40% faster on .NET 8.0, with significant improvements in request throughput and memory efficiency .
Reliability – Optimizely's .NET 8.0 infrastructure runs on Linux containers with faster startup times. As a future enhancement, hosting on Linux enables Configured Commerce to utilize auto-scaling during high volume .
Observability – Improved integration with modern monitoring tools like Datadog APM and Application Insights provide better visibility into application performance and faster issue resolution .
Efficiency – Improved startup and build time give your team faster development and testing cycles. This means reduced time-to-market for new features and fixes.

See the following articles for additional benefits:

While both .NET 4.8 and .NET 8.0 are currently supported, Optimizely recommends planning your migration now to take advantage of these benefits and ensure a smooth transition before .NET 4.8 reaches end-of-life.

FAQs

What are .NET Framework, .NET Standard, and .NET Core?

Each is a Microsoft technology platform for building software applications. .NET Core and .NET are often used interchangeably as .NET Core is where all new features and innovations are being developed. See the .NET and . NET Core Support Policy for the history.

Why is this important?

This change aligns Configured Commerce better with Microsoft’s release schedule for new technology advancements in the .NET platform. Migrating to .NET Core brings these advancements to your Configured Commerce instance.

Who is responsible for implementing this change?

Optimizely has made these enhancements available through the Configured Commerce platform, and your partner development team is responsible for ensuring custom server-side code is migrated to .NET Core.

Will this release take more development effort than past releases?

Performing this upgrade without migrating to .NET Core does not require additional development time; Configured Commerce continues to support .NET Framework 4.8 simultaneously with .NET 8. There is additional effort expected for your partner development team to migrate to .NET Core.

What is the deadline for implementing the change?

Optimizely will set an end-of-support date for NET4.8 with Configured Commerce in early 2026.

As a customer I don’t know where to begin. Who should I speak to?

Your Customer Success Manager is a good resource for discussing your current business objectives and where the .NET 8 migration would fit in your roadmap. You should also discuss this with your partner developer team to get their perspective on potential risks and benefits.