Top 23 .NET Core Libraries That Every Programmer should know

Quick Overview:
.NET Core applications have been in trend for a long time due to their platform-independent architecture and modern features.

With each passing day, stakeholders provide some new requirements, and to fulfill them; organizations have to revamp their apps. However, with the base library for .NET Core, developers can quickly extend the functionalities and add new features.

There are various libraries that a .NET developer can utilize for different purposes.

By reading further, you will get to know what are some of the NET libraries and how they benefit dot net programmers during app development.

Popular 23 .NET Core Libraries List

1. AutoMapper

As the name suggests, AutoMapper is an object-object transforming the .NET Core library.

It helps developers configure automated object transformation from one type to another. The only rule is that both objects must follow its defined convention.

Besides providing the code mapping mechanism, it also aids in testing the mapping in each app layer for resolving inter-layer conflicts. To leverage the AutoMapper library’s full benefit, you have to configure it in the app startup file.

As a result, you can eliminate the tasks for manual implementation of mapping the class properties and reduce the effort. It will save your project budget and time.

2. SignalR

If you want to add real-time functionalities to .NET Core applications, then SignalR must be your top library.

It is available under the open-source license and is freely accessible for effortlessly pushing server code toward the client systems. Most organizations prefer it for high-performing software, such as games, online voting, and GPS-based apps.

You can include it in your code by configuring the SignalR API, which creates remote procedure calls for the server-client architecture. In addition, it manages the communication channel and resources for seamlessly transferring data during high traffic.

Moreover, WebSocket, Long Polling, and Server-Sent Events are the three primary options for enabling SignalR real-time data flow.

3. SaaSKit

You must have been working with many SaaS applications, accessing them without installing them on your system.

SaaSkit is a popular .NET Core library, enabling engineers to craft SaaS applications with multi-tenancy capabilities. It allows various users to access the web application and utilize its services through a single instance.

You can use it for various purposes, such as:

• Optimizing the resource utilization
• You have to configure only a single instance in the production environment for easy deployment.

Furthermore, you can couple it with other libraries, such as SignalR, for extending SaaS software features. And with OWIN and Microsoft’s collaboration aids to generate OWIN Middle Components for streamlining the development process.

4. Swashbuckle

Swagger documents are an essential part of software projects, as they help systems precisely define and read the app structure.

For producing the swagger documentation for .NET Core apps, Swashbuckle is an easy-to-implement technology. You can quickly learn it and use it for generating. NET-based Web API documentation.

Its overall functioning depends upon the three primary components, AspNetCore.SwaggerGen, AspNetCore.SwaggerUI and AspNetCore.Swagger. All three work in collaboration to provide JSON and XML-based files containing responses.

In addition, it synchronizes the server-client API documentation, leading dot net core developers from the custom .NET development company to improve API working. In addition, you can also use such documents for app reinforcement and migration purposes.

5. LiteDB

For linking serverless databases of web application development like .NET Core app, LiteDB can ensure you a featherlight and high-performing NoSQL solution.

You can use it for various software, including mobile, desktop, and web apps. Moreover, it provides built-in modules for assigning an individual database to every user.

It comes in a DLL file, which consumes less than 450kb of memory and is compatible with .NET version 4.5. It offers the following features:

• You can enable writer locks for each collection.
• It allows cross-collection data communication, assuring thread security.
• You can execute data insert, update, and delete instructions using SQL-based commands.
• It provides a built-in Explain Plan mechanism for verifying whether the query will be reliable for an app or not.

6. Bcrypt.net

The Bcrypt.NET library was developed by Damien Miller. This library is used for encryption in both frameworks – .NET and .NET Core. The Bcrypt library is utilized mainly by developers who pay extra attention to the security of the application. This is because this particular .NET library is a cryptographic library specializing in secure password hashing and verification. This .NET library employs an algorithm called- Bcrypt, a flawless defense against common attack vectors.

This strength or effectiveness of the Bcrypt.NET library lies in its utilization of adaptive hashing techniques and random salts, which act as defenses against brute force attacks and make it difficult for attackers to retrieve original passwords.

To prevent attackers from reading data and using it for personal use, hashing works as a robust defensive layer. You can install it via NuGet and configure it in ASP.NET Core apps by following the below-provided code syntax.

string passwordHash = BCrypt.Net.BCrypt.HashPassword("Pa$$w0rd");

The code is hashing the string Pa$$w0rd and storing the value in passwordHash.

Likewise, you can also utilize .NET-based software enhances its security and prevents data breaches.

7. Diagnostics.HealthChecks

To make sure your business solution is working correctly, checking its health status is a common practice.

It provides the total app uptime, performance of each API, database, microservices, and custom and built-in components. For obtaining a .NET Core app health report, developers utilize Diagnostic.HealthChecks library.

You can configure it in your ASP.NET Core applications by following the below steps.

• #1: Open the Visual Studio IDE and Create an ASP.NET Core app project.
• #2: Install the Microsoft.Extensions.Diagnostics.HealthChecks and Newtonsoft.Json.
• #3: Open the startup file and register it under it by including services.AddHealthChecks(); in code.
• #4: Navigate to Configure method and define the path to the endpoint.
• #5: Once you perform all four steps, you have to navigate to your local host, and it will provide you with the health status.

8. MailKit

Communication is considered the key to better business and building strong customer relationships.

To allow users to exchange their files, thoughts, and queries, you can enable mail sending and receiving in .NET Core apps through MailKit. You can install it by using the project.json file or accessing the NuGet Package Manager.

It connects the .NET Core software with an external SMTP server and leverages the end-users to communicate via email.

In addition, it allows for sending an extensive volume of mail in a secure environment, as it uses a TLS or SSL-based asymmetric cryptography mechanism.

9. Dapper

Dapper is another .NET Core mapping library focusing on the mapping between the programming language and database.

It is the second most popular ORM library, assuring high performance, speed, and impeccable configuration. You can implement it in three easy steps. First, you have to generate an IDbConnection object, and then you have to write a query for CRUD operations. Further, you have to pass the query in the execute method.

Once you complete all the steps, Dapper will start working within your ASP.NET Core application.

10. Polly

Polly is categorized as a lightweight library designed specifically for .NET Core developers. It ensures that the software system is more resilient and responsive, which is accomplished by this .net library that simplifies the management of various types of faults that can occur in an app, such as:

• Retrying
• Timeout
• Circuit break
• Thread-safe fallback
• Bulkhead isolation, etc.

Polly’s integration with .NET Core’s asynchronous programming model ensures seamless error management without blocking threads.

11. CacheManager

CacheManager is a free (open-source) caching framework for .NET that’s coded in C#. It’s accessible through NuGet. This .NET library supports the “n” number of cache sources and consists of various advanced features. It is mostly used by developers when they are stuck or having issues solving complex caching scenarios. In lay terms, this .NET library makes things much simpler or easier for developers who deal with complicated caching situations with the help of its features.

12. Ocelot

Ocelot is a lightweight, open-source, scalable, and fast API Gateway based on .NET Core and specially designed for microservices architecture. It acts like a traffic controller for different services in .NET Core apps. Ocelot simplifies things like:

• Routing
• Rate limiting
• Authorization
• Authentication
• Load balancing
• Other security tasks that are part of microservices, etc.

Ocelot works seamlessly with ASP.NET Core and is also highly adaptable, allowing you to customize routing and load balancing to your preferences. By using this .NET library, you can make service collaboration much simpler and enhance security, teamwork, and the overall user experience (UX).

13. NLog

NLog is an open-source and cross-platform .NET core library mainly used for logging. Along with managing application logs, it also consists of robust features, such as:

• Extensible
• Easy configuration
• Template formation
• Structured logging

Mainly, the flexibility of Nlog shines in how it directs log output – it can go to files, databases, or remote services. Developers can fine-tune NLog’s settings, precisely setting up log formats, filters, and levels. NLog’s asynchronous logging keeps apps running smoothly, even with heavy use. By using the NLog dotnet library, developers gain insights, solve problems, and keep a well-organized record of app behavior for analysis and compliance.

14. Smidge

To manage, compress, and combine JavaScript and CSS files, Smidge is a strong option as it cuts downs the requests made to the server when a page loads. This is accomplished by its smart caching and advanced features like:

• Fluent syntax
• Cache-busting
• Server/client-side caching
• Compression, etc

This is not all! Smidge library also consists of smart caching and versioning strategies that ensure users that they get the latest assets and cached copies when feasible (asap). By using this .NET library, developers can significantly reduce page load times, making UX better by delivering content faster.

15. FluentEmail

FluentEmail is a free .NET library that lets you quickly add email-sending capabilities to your dotnet app, often within 10 – 15 minutes. It comes with ready-to-use providers for famous email senders, like Mailgun, and includes templates utilizing Liquid or Razor.

FluentEmail simplifies the process of setting up email sending in your application. This .NET library’s API is user-friendly and offers autocomplete suggestions as you type, which enhances the coding process and makes it effortless. The FluentEmail .NET library is thoroughly tested and provides trustworthy options for commonly used email services and templates. It also embraces dependency injection, which helps keep your code structured and allows you to write tests or customize email settings for various scenarios quickly.

16. UnitConversion

UnitConversion .NET library is designed to handle the challenges of different measurement units in .NET Core applications. With its organized set of tools, developers can effortlessly switch between units, ensuring that data remains consistent and makes sense no matter the measurement used.

Using UnitConversion, developers can skip the complicated work of adapting their apps for different languages and regions. This library displays information to users in a simple manner that is globally understandable or recognized in order to ensure that everyone can communicate effectively without any difficulty. It’s a unit conversion library compatible with both the .NET and dotnet core frameworks and can handle a variety of conversions, such as:

• Converting time
• Adapting area units
• Changing mass units
• Altering volume units
• Switching distance units

17. FastReport

FastReport is an open-source .NET Core library for making reports and is capable of gathering data from “n” number of sources and databases like XML, CSV, JSON, MySQL, CouchBase, Postgres, SQLite, MongoDB, Oracle, etc.

In your .NET Core apps, this .dotnet core library works as a powerful tool to create lively reports with the help of its features like – customizable templates, the ability to save reports as PDFs, Excel sheets, or HTML pages, etc.

In lay terms, FastReport is a powerful library that turns raw data into insights for informed decision-making. It’s perfect for developers who want to add top-notch reporting features to their applications or use it across diverse domains, like:

• Data analysis
• Business Insights
• Performance monitoring

18. Autocomplete

This is a dot NET core library created to AutoComplete text boxes and fields in various types of applications (desktop, web, or cloud-based applications) irrespective of the type. The small JavaScript file is about 13 KB in size and relies on jQuery.

Autocomplete library brings a new level of user interaction, providing instant suggestions while users type. This all happens because of the use of a smart algorithm in place that predicts what users might type next, thus reducing errors and speeding up the input process.

Developers can easily add Autocomplete to elements like search bars, forms, and content fields. This creates a smooth user experience where data entry is faster and less mentally taxing. In layman’s terms – this library is extremely valuable for apps in which accuracy and speed in entering data matter.

19. AppMetrics

AppMetrics .NET library records metrics in applications and works on both .NET Core and the full .NET framework, including versions like .NET 4.5.2. The best thing about AppMetrics is that it handles where to store metrics data, like in InfluxDB, Prometheus, Graphite, Elasticsearch, etc. It does this by collecting and summarizing data in memory, and it’s designed to push this data to the chosen storage place at specific times.

AppMetrics comes with different types of metrics to measure all sorts of things: how often requests happen, counting logins over time, measuring how long database queries take, and even tracking how much free memory there is. Some metric types it supports are:

• Apdex
• Gauges
• Counters
• Meters
• Histograms
• Timers

20. SharpCompress

SharpCompress is a free, pure .NET library that lets software developers work with popular compression file formats like RAR, GZIP, ZIP, BZIP2, TAR, etc. This library helps you to work with compressed files in your .NET Core applications, making compression and decompression tasks smoother.

Apart from its core features, it also provides:

• Ability to write to ZIP archives
• Support for decrypting RAR 5 files
• Zip64 support, which handles big .ZIP files
• The ability to handle ZIP files split into multiple volumes

21. nopCommerce

When it comes to .NET Core libraries for websites, nopCommerce takes the crown for shopping cart support. This dotnet core library is equipped with – advanced features, solid stability, and security. The real standout feature of nopCommerce is its modular architecture. Due to this architecture, it becomes extremely easy for developers to add new features and tailor the platform to match unique business requirements catering to a diverse range of users.

22. Cscore

CSCore is an audio library for .NET that’s made in C#. Even though it’s quite new, this C# library is loaded with lots of stuff like playing and recording audio, converting different kinds of audio formats, adding effects, and more!

The library is open-source and cross-platform, i.e., it can operate smoothly on every OS, whether it’s – Linux, Windows, or Mac. Another important thing about the library is its extensible architecture which enables users to customize it according to their needs with less effort. The library comes with several essential features:

• Generic equalizer
• 3D audio support
• Audio quality adjusting
• Custom processor creation
• Audio encoding or decoding
• Real-time audio data processing
• Streaming source voice implementation, etc.

23. NetOffice

NetOffice is like a toolbox of libraries that helps you create add-ons and automate Microsoft Office programs. With NetOffice, you can make Microsoft Office apps like PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc., do more, and work automatically. If your version is 2000 or newer, NetOffice has your back in the .NET Core framework.

Some of its standout features are:

• You can use it with popular .NET Framework 4.0 or newer.
• You can develop things without being tied to a specific version.
• Your code will be neater because NetOffice handles tricky stuff for you.
• You don’t have to worry about complicated setup or registering anything.
• If you want to make extra things for Microsoft Office, it’s easy with NetOffice.
• You won’t need other pieces of software to make NetOffice work. It’s all in one package.

What are the Preferred .NET Core Libraries Among Developers?

Every .NET Core library performs a unique function and follows different mechanisms for getting adjoined in the .NET Core application.

To discover the most appropriate library, .NET developers go through the following steps:

• Check the requirements of the ASP.NET Core application.
• Analyze the features and modules of the .NET libraries.
• Verify requirements with the library features.
• Select it for custom software development if the requisites align with the functionalities .NET Core library.

When looking to hire .NET Core developers, a key requirement is solid expertise and hands-on experience with .NET Core libraries & frameworks. The Developer should demonstrate working knowledge of core .NET libraries like System.Collections, System.IO, System.Linq, System.Net.Http, etc., along with a good grasp of ASP.NET Core for web development, including Razor pages, Controllers, Blazor, etc. Knowledge of .NET Core’s Entity Framework Core for database access and Unity dependency injection is also vital. Experience with .NET Core’s cross-platform capabilities for building apps and services on Linux, macOS, Docker, etc. is a plus. The ideal .NET Core developer will be up-to-date on the latest .NET releases and can efficiently showcase examples of leveraging .NET Core libraries and frameworks in their work. Ensuring .NET Core developers have mastered the key libraries and concepts will enable them to build robust and scalable .NET Core-based solutions.

Final Words on .NET Core libraries

.NET Core is a cutting-edge development technology offering various tools and libraries to expand the app functionalities.

From linking a serverless database to enabling mailing features and to automate object to object mapping process, it provides every essential feature to reduce workload. All the libraries are easy to implement and optimize the app’s performance.

Furthermore, every developer should learn the Essential .NET Core libraries configuration to enhance productivity, reliability, and security.