Everything You Should Know About NET Developers

Does your project require a skilled .NET developer? Our guide will help you understand what they do, .NET skills, when to go with .NET software development and more. Read on!

What is .NET development?

Designed by Microsoft in 2002, .NET is an open-source platform for building web, mobile, and desktop applications. While it was initially intended for the Windows operating system, .NET has since expanded its capabilities to become compatible with Linux, macOS, etc.

Modern .NET software development is about creating a wide range

of solutions, including desktop applications for Windows, dynamic websites, cross-platform applications, cloud-based applications, and backend services as well as diving into such fields as IoT, AI/ML, and gaming.

Dot net development is an all-arching concept that encompasses multiple programming languages for building applications within the framework. Thus, .NET software development involves the following languages:

C#
F#
VB.NET

The .NETsoftware development ecosystem also includes a wide range of technologies designed to address specific application development goals, such as:

ASP.NET
ASP.NET Core
WinForms
WPF
Xamarin
ML.NET
SignalR

As such, answering the question of "What is .NET development?" we should say that it's about executing software products using a wide spectrum of technologies, languages, and tools within a .NET environment.

What is a .NET developer?

A .NET developer (also known as Dot Net developer) is a professional who works on designing, development, and maintenance of applications using technologies associated with the .NET platform. Dot Net developers write code in programming languages (like C#) to create software components, implement business logic, and handle data processing.

Depending on the project, a .NET developer can be involved in one of the following realms of software development:

Backend development
Frontend development
.NET web app development
.NET mobile app development
.NET desktop app development

What does a .NET developer do?

Let's take a closer look at the role of a dotnet developer.

So, what does a .NET developer do?

Net developers specialize in several areas of software development. Let’s review those:

Web Development. Oftentimes, companies require NET web developers for web application projects. This task is typically handled by professionals adept at ASP.NET, a framework designed specifically for the development of dynamic web pages that run on multiple devices.

Mobile development. Such a cross-platform technology as Xamarin enables NET programmers to build mobile applications that run on various devices due to a shared codebase, including iOS, Android, and Windows. So, if your company is a proponent of cross-platform development, it’s sensible to add a .NET developer to your team.

Desktop application development. Dot NET developers can also handle your desktop app development project. As experts in WPF technology, they can develop a Windows-based application with solid UI and a suite of features.

Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence. Many .NET developers are a part of ML projects that assume using specific frameworks, for instance, ML.NET that let them develop various algorithms within .NET applications.

Cloud integration. .NET programmers should also know their way around cloud platforms, such as Microsoft Azure, as it’s crucial to build scalable cloud apps that drive businesses forward.

Now that we have responded to the question “What does a .NET developer do?” Let’s shift our focus to .NET developer skills.

What are .NET developer skills?

The .NET platform offers multiple technologies, methods, and approaches to software development. This has expanded the magnitude of the .NET developer skillset. What are .NET developer skills, exactly? Let's review the most common skills you may come across in .NET developer portfolios.

.NET coding skills

Creating web, mobile, and desktop applications calls for excellent programming proficiency. During interviews, you can verify .NET skills by inviting a candidate to pass a live code session.

Not only does Dot NET development require deep code writing skills but also the ability to refactor code. Thus, ensure a .NET programmer in question has to have the capabilities to work on this task as well. A solid candidate can take a poor codebase, analyze, and restructure it without impacting external behavior of the application. It's also crucial for Dotnet developers to ensure the app's performance is at its best – thanks to analyzing and improving their own code.

Database skills

Data has become ubiquitous, so storing and managing that data should be part and parcel of software developers' portfolios. With that in mind, NET developer skill sets should include experience with databases, for example, SQL Server, NoSQL, or Oracle.

Frontend development skills

When creating a web application, it's crucial to cater to the needs of the target audience. Front-end development is about creating an engaging client side that appeals to users. Therefore, .NET developers should have familiarity with the fundamentals of front-end technologies, including such staples of interface development as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

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MS certification

Many companies poach Microsoft-verified NET developers. For instance, Microsoft Certified Solutions Developers (MCSD). Such professionals will become a valuable addition to your team, as they have completed the specific training from Microsoft on designing applications using MS toolkits and technologies. Graduates of this program are strong specialists who tend to keep their skills sharp, as Microsoft requires regular reacquiring of the certificate.

Microsoft MVP Award

Holders of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Award are seasoned developers and tech experts who have in-depth knowledge of MS products and services. Not only is it a marker of a strong .NET expert but it also signals the leadership qualities of the award holder.

Soft competencies

Besides hard skills, A .NET developer should be a solid communicator, and problem-solver, and have excellent self-organization skills. That's the key to productive work in a modern IT environment.

Knowledge of Agile methodologies

Many organizations nowadays prefer Agile as their key software development methodology. With that in mind, .NET developers should have a deep understanding of its concepts and experience working in SCRUM. Knowledge of this methodology helps the team work more efficiently.

A .NET developer skill set: The technical side

When drafting a job description for a Dot NET programmer, it's necessary to mention the needed set of .NET skills so the right candidates apply to your vacancy. Skilled Dotnet developers typically have the following hard competencies in their portfolio.

Visual Studio. This IDE (Integrated Development Environment) by Microsoft helps NET developers communicate with the rest of the team more efficiently, focus on continuous integration and leverage a wide range of extensions from both Microsoft and third-party vendors.

.NET framework. This technology allows developers to create reusable and easy-to-read code. Dotnet developers should also have a firm grasp of programming paradigms supported by the framework: ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Web API.

ASP.NET. This technology is the bread and butter for a NET web developer. Given that companies nowadays strive for an online presence, the demand for web development is soaring across multiple business verticals. As a part of the Dot NET development ecosystem, ASP.NET plays a crucial role in modern web development – it takes second place after PHP in terms of usage on the server side. Such a popularity has an explanation behind it: ASP.NET lets developers deliver robust, secure web applications within a relevant short development cycle. Therefore, .NET developers should definitely have this technology in their toolbox.

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ASP.NET Core. This technology suits development for various platforms. As opposed to ASP.NET which traditionally runs on the Windows platform, .NET Core lets developers target macOS and Linux as well.

Entity Framework. EF is designed to simplify the work with databases in .NET applications. An open-source object-relational mapping (ORM), EF resonates with object-relational mapping in .NET and lets developers effectively utilize the application database's objects and relationships, without focusing on them directly.

Xamarin. It’s a comprehensive collection of tools and libraries within the .NET ecosystem used for mobile application development. If your project is about building a cross-platform application, it’s sensible to source a NET developer with Xamarin skills.

Programming languages. A significant part of .NET skills is such programming languages as C#, C++, F#, VB.NET, which enables developers to create apps on the .NET platform.

When does your business need dot NET developers?

Second only to PHP, Dot NET development reigns supreme in the world of programming: About 7% of applications rely on this technology at the backend. No matter your vertical, you can make the most of this technology for building applications for your business. Here are some scenarios for .NET software development:

When you need a truly unique application

Thanks to NET software development, you can enjoy distinctive desktop, mobile applications and websites that stand out among your competition. Proficient Dot NET developers will create original web forms, web pages, and user interfaces.

When your project needs enhanced security

Net programmers can develop an app with robust security and scalability using the ASP.NET platform. Thanks to their profound skills and knowledge of the .NET ecosystem, they will address client-side web development requirements while configuring applications with multiple layers of security features to ensure their integrity and protection.

When you require a data-driven application

Many .NET programmers excel at building data-driven solutions, so they will bring their ASP.NET Core. skills to the table and develop a feature rich application for you.

.NET developers with Hiretop

No matter your reasons to dive into .NET software development, Hiretop ensures you find a skilled .NET developer and add them to your team without hassle. We can help you access the best Dotnet developer talent in Eastern Europe, including such hotspots of development as Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and the Baltics. Contact us today to discuss your needs. We may be ready to send you some CVs today.