Microsoft has released the second preview of its upcoming .NET 10 developer platform, offering developers a glimpse into new enhancements and expanded functionality across several areas. This update, known as .NET 10 Preview 2, was made available on March 18, following the initial preview launched in February. The full release is expected in November. Developers can access the preview through the official .NET website. Among the key improvements are advancements in cryptographic flexibility, performance enhancements in the .NET runtime, and further evolution of the C# programming language.
One significant enhancement in .NET 10 Preview 2 involves the cryptography tools. Developers can now utilize new ExportPkcs12 methods on the X509Certificate2 class, enabling them to specify the encryption and digest algorithms used when exporting certificates. Previously, the method defaulted to outdated standards from the Windows XP era, which often resulted in weaker encryption. This change gives developers stronger control over security practices, helping ensure compliance with modern encryption requirements.
The C# language has also been updated in this preview, specifically with the introduction of C# 14 features. The language now supports partial instance constructors and partial events, expanding on the concept of partial members. This builds upon enhancements introduced in C# 13, such as partial methods and properties. Partial members allow parts of a class to be implemented separately, making them especially useful in scenarios involving source code generation and multi-file class implementations. These additions further support modular and maintainable code architecture in complex projects.
Beyond language and cryptographic improvements, .NET 10 Preview 2 continues to refine runtime performance. Ongoing work to enhance the JIT (just-in-time) compiler’s handling of array interface methods through better devirtualization aims to boost execution efficiency. Additionally, the update introduces practical developer-facing enhancements, including new aliases in the .NET CLI for easier command usage, updates to Blazor project templates with improved reconnect behavior, and performance gains in WPF. NativeAOT applications also benefit from faster startup times and reduced memory usage, while improvements span multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, macOS, and more. Together, these updates make Preview 2 a robust step forward in the journey toward the final release of .NET 10.