1. C# 12 – Primary Constructors
C# 12 introduced primary constructors, allowing for a more concise syntax when defining classes with parameters. This feature simplifies class definitions by enabling parameter declarations directly in the class header.
csharpCopyEditpublic class User(string firstName, string lastName)
{
public string FullName => $"{firstName} {lastName}";
}
var user = new User("Jane", "Doe");
Console.WriteLine(user.FullName); // Output: Jane Doe
2. C# 12 – Collection Expressions
Collection expressions in C# 12 provide a streamlined way to initialize collections, enhancing code readability and reducing boilerplate.
csharpCopyEditint[] numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
Additionally, the spread operator allows for combining collections effortlessly:
csharpCopyEditint[] firstRow = [1, 2, 3];
int[] secondRow = [4, 5, 6];
int[] combined = [..firstRow, ..secondRow]; // Result: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
3. .NET 8 – Performance Enhancements
.NET 8 continued the tradition of performance improvements, introducing numerous optimizations that contribute to faster application execution and reduced startup times. These enhancements encompass various aspects of the runtime and libraries, resulting in more efficient resource utilization.
4. .NET 8 – Time Abstraction API
The introduction of the TimeProvider class and ITimer interface in .NET 8 facilitates easier mocking of time in testing scenarios. This abstraction supports essential time operations, such as retrieving local and UTC time, obtaining performance timestamps, and creating timers, thereby improving testability and code reliability.
csharpCopyEdit// Retrieve system time
DateTimeOffset utcNow = TimeProvider.System.GetUtcNow();
DateTimeOffset localNow = TimeProvider.System.GetLocalNow();
// Create a timer using a time provider
ITimer timer = TimeProvider.System.CreateTimer(callback, state, dueTime, period);
5. .NET 8 – Randomness Management APIs
.NET 8 introduced new methods for managing randomness, such as System.Random.GetItems() and System.Security.Cryptography.RandomNumberGenerator.GetItems(). These methods enable the selection of a specified number of items randomly from a collection, enhancing the capabilities for random data generation in applications.
csharpCopyEdit// Select random items from a collection
var selectedItems = RandomNumberGenerator.GetItems(sourceCollection, numberOfItems);
These features from .NET 8 and C# 12 have laid the groundwork for the advancements seen in subsequent versions, contributing to the robust and efficient development environment that developers experience today.