.NET 8.0+ overview

Optimizely has brought .NET 8.0+ 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 runs on .NET Framework 4.8, which Microsoft released in 2019. .NET Framework 4.8 still receives bug fixes and security patches under the .NET Framework official support policy, it no longer receives new feature development. See Microsoft's article about .NET Framework.

Microsoft develops features in .NET rather than .NET Framework, and ships a .NET release every November. Configured Commerce customers who stay current get each release's improvements.

Microsoft released .NET 8 in November 2023, .NET 9 in November 2024, and .NET 10 in November 2025. Optimizely tracks each annual .NET release and brings supported versions to Configured Commerce.

Opt in

Complete the following steps to opt in:

1. Ensure you use build service v2.

2. Upgrade to 5.2.2604.725-lts or newer following the standard upgrade process.

3. Update your development environment as described in .NET 8.0 local development environment.

4. Migrate your code to .NET 8.0+ in your development environment. See .NET 4.8 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.

5. Verify that your environment is ready for migration in Mission Control.

   1. Log in to Mission Control.
   2. Go to your instance detail page.
   3. Locate the Ready for Linux Migration column.
      If the column displays a checkmark, your environment is ready for migration.

   

   If the column displays No Linux build found – rebuild to verify, Configured Commerce could not find the Linux DLL.

   

6. Initiate a support ticket to request that Optimizely perform the Change Backend to Linux action for your hosted environment.

Optimizely recognizes that this migration costs customers and development partners time and effort. The following benefits explain the return on that investment. The following information is provided to help you make the best decision for your business.

Benefits

• Performance – Configured Commerce applications run up to 40% faster on .NET 8.0+ in Optimizely internal testing. Request throughput and memory efficiency both improve
• Reliability – Configured Commerce runs on Linux containers that start faster than .NET Framework hosts. Linux hosting also enables auto-scaling during high-volume periods in a future release.
• Observability – Configured Commerce integrates with Datadog APM and Application Insights, which give clearer performance visibility 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:

• Choose between .NET and .NET Framework for server apps
• Microsoft .NET Framework Lifecycle: End Of Life And Support Status

Configured Commerce supports both .NET Framework 4.8 and .NET 8.0+. Optimizely recommends that you plan your migration before .NET Framework 4.8 reaches end of support.

FAQs

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 8.0+ brings these advancements to your Configured Commerce instance.

Who is responsible for implementing this change?

Optimizely delivers these enhancements through Configured Commerce. Your partner development team migrates your custom server-side code to .NET 8.0+.

Will this release take more development effort than past releases?

Upgrading without migrating to .NET 8.0+ requires no extra development time. Configured Commerce supports .NET Framework 4.8 and .NET 8.0+ side by side. Migrating to .NET 8.0+ does require extra effort from your partner development team.

What is the deadline for implementing the change?

Optimizely will set an end-of-support date for .NET Framework 4.8 with Configured Commerce in early 2026.

As a customer, I do not know where to begin. Who should I speak to?

Talk to your Customer Success Manager about your business objectives and where the .NET 8.0+ migration fits your roadmap. Also ask your partner development team about the risks and benefits.