Why is support ending?

.NET Core 3.1
.NET Core 3.1 was released in December 2019 as a Long-Term Support version (LTS). However, Microsoft ended support for this version on December 13, 2022. This means that Microsoft no longer provides updates, hotfixes, or technical support. Applications running on .NET Core 3.1 will continue to function, but they may become increasingly vulnerable to new security threats.

.NET 5.0
.NET 5.0 was officially released in November 2020 and marked the first version after the platform’s rebranding, which dropped the “Core” designation. It’s important to note that .NET 5.0 was not a Long-Term Support release; Microsoft announced that it would have a short support lifecycle of only 18 months. Support for .NET 5.0 ended on May 10, 2022. No further updates, including security fixes, have been released since that date, making it necessary for production systems to migrate to a currently supported version of the platform.

How will this affect Stimulsoft products?

With the transition to newer platform versions, further development of Stimulsoft products will only be possible on the following platforms supported by Microsoft:

• .NET 6.0 (LTS);
• .NET 7.0 (compatible with .NET 6.0);
• .NET 8.0 (LTS);
• .NET 9.0 and newer (compatible with .NET 8.0).

Important!

Stimulsoft products have supported .NET 6.0 and .NET 8.0 from the initial release of these frameworks, providing our clients with all the benefits of modern technologies. New releases will not contain libraries and updates for .NET Core 3.1 and .NET 5.0. To get new versions of Stimulsoft, you will need to use at least .NET 6.0 or .NET 8.0.

Benefits of migrating to modern .NET versions

Security: Only new versions receive regular updates and vulnerability fixes.
Performance: Optimizations and new APIs enhance the speed and efficiency of applications.
Expanded functionality: Modern .NET versions allow you to use the latest platform capabilities and integrate with the latest technologies.
Compatibility: Backward compatibility is maintained, which makes it easier to migrate projects. Migration best practice

To migrate your projects to .NET 6.0 or .NET 8.0, use the .NET Upgrade Assistant and refer to the compatibility guides from Microsoft. Remember that no patches will be released for older versions after support ends.

Upcoming platform - .NET 10

Microsoft is actively developing the next Long-Term Support (LTS) release - .NET 10.0 - expected in November 2025. This will follow .NET 8.0 as the next LTS version.

.NET 10 will include further improvements in performance, security, support for cloud and cross-platform solutions, and additional tools for building modern applications. We are monitoring the platform’s development and will immediately add support for .NET 10 in Stimulsoft products after its official release.

.NET Framework support

Our reporting components are entirely compatible with .NET Framework version 4.5.2 and higher, as well as .NET Framework 4.7.2 and higher. The solutions run reliably on these versions. We regularly conduct tests and they always demonstrate high reliability on all supported platforms. Read more about the supported versions of popular frameworks here.

Summary

The end of support for .NET Core 3.1 and .NET 5.0 will enable us to focus exclusively on modern, secure, and high-performance technologies, allowing us to create reliable solutions for our clients. If you have any questions about migration or using new platform features, please contact our technical support.

Owners of Stimulsoft licenses with ‘source code’ retain the ability to independently compile and maintain compatibility of components for older .NET versions, allowing them to adapt the products to their specific requirements.