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Rushil Bhuptani
Rushil Bhuptani

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Getting Started with .NET 10 Preview 2: A Hands-on Guide to New Features

Stop me if this sounds familiar.

You’ve just stabilized your current project on .NET 8 or .NET 9. Everything’s running smoothly, and then — boom — Microsoft drops a new preview version. You’re interested (of course), but you’re also cautious. You don’t want to waste time on experimental features that might not stick. But you also don’t want to fall behind.

Sound about right?

If you’re navigating the ever-evolving world of .NET development, you’re probably asking, What’s actually new in .NET 10 Preview 2? Is it worth exploring now? And if so, what should I focus on first?

That’s exactly what this guide will unpack.

With years of experience in .NET Core development services, working with teams from startups to global enterprises, we’ve seen how the right early adoption can give companies a competitive edge when done smartly. In this article, you’ll get a practical look at what’s new in .NET 10 Preview 2, how it might benefit your web applications, and how to get started without breaking anything in production.

Let’s make sense of this preview release so you can make better tech decisions faster.

What’s New in .NET 10 Preview 2?

Microsoft’s .NET 10 Preview 2 brings some genuinely exciting improvements — and this time, it’s not just minor under-the-hood tweaks. Whether you're running a large-scale enterprise app or working with a .NET software development company, there’s something here for you.

Enhanced Native AOT Support

Ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation has seen significant upgrades. You’ll now experience faster startup times, reduced memory usage, and improved performance, especially for microservices and container-based apps.

Why it matters: This is great news if you're scaling cloud-native applications. Whether you’re managing your in-house team or planning to hire dedicated .NET developers, this can lead to cost savings and better performance out of the box.

C# 13 Language Improvements

Being included progressively, C# 13 Preview 2 includes early capabilities, including improved pattern matching and more straightforward syntax for typical logical patterns.

Why it matters: Clean, modern code is easier to maintain and quicker to write. For teams supported by a .NET development company, this means faster delivery and fewer bugs long term.

Minimal API Upgrades

Minimal APIs were a hit when introduced, and this release makes them even better, with improved route handling, built-in error handling, and new filters that make code neater and more powerful.

Why it matters: If you're working with a dot net web development company to launch lightweight, fast APIs, these enhancements make your architecture even more efficient.

Blazor Updates

Blazor now feels smoother and more interactive. The enhancements improve component responsiveness, event handling, and rendering performance.

Why it matters: Building interactive web apps using full-stack .NET is now more realistic than ever. Especially for teams looking to unify front-end and back-end with help from the best .NET development company, this is a strong reason to consider .NET 10.

Visual Studio & Tooling Improvements

Preview 2 improves Visual Studio integration with better diagnostics, profiling, and hot reload support. It also provides a faster build experience with improved feedback during development.

Why it matters: Developers spend hours in their IDE. These upgrades help teams — whether in-house or from a .NET development company — ship cleaner code, faster.

How These Features Impact Your Projects

A preview release isn’t something you’d drop into production immediately — but it is worth exploring in a sandbox or dev environment.

  • For product owners and CTOs: Native AOT and Minimal APIs can cut down infrastructure costs and simplify deployments. If you're scaling or replatforming, now’s the time to assess.

  • For developers: Early access to C# 13 and improved tooling means a smoother development experience. You’ll be writing better, more maintainable code, sooner.

  • For businesses working with a vendor: If you're partnering with a .NET core development company, this is the perfect time to start testing new builds or POCs using .NET 10 so you’re ready when it goes stable.

Should You Use .NET 10 Preview 2 Right Now?

In short: use it for testing, not for production — yet.

Preview versions are designed for exploration and feedback. They’re stable enough for dev environments, but not fully locked down for mission-critical deployments. That said, early adopters gain valuable familiarity that puts them ahead when the official release drops.

If you’re already collaborating with a .NET development company, get them to spin up a test project in .NET 10. You’ll spot opportunities (or issues) early, which saves time down the line.

Getting Started With .NET 10 Preview 2

If you’re ready to give it a go, here’s how to get started:

  1. Install the latest .NET 10 SDK Preview from the official Microsoft site.
  2. Use Visual Studio 2022 or 2023 (Preview) with the matching workload.
  3. Create a new project using dotnet new and test out the new features (Minimal APIs, Blazor improvements, AOT, etc.).
  4. Read the Microsoft release notes to keep up with any breaking changes or fixes in upcoming builds.
  5. Experiment and share feedback — Microsoft relies heavily on community input during these preview cycles.

Working with a .NET software development company can help speed up this process, especially if you want a sandbox build or proof-of-concept.

Choosing the Right .NET Partner

If you're planning to integrate .NET 10 into your stack in the near future, now is a good time to evaluate your development support.
Look for a partner who:

  • Actively explores preview builds and modern features
  • Offers flexible models to hire dedicated .NET developers
  • Has experience in performance optimisation (especially for AOT and Blazor)
  • Understands business goals as well as technical ones

A best-in-class .NET development company doesn’t just write code — they help you make strategic tech decisions with confidence.

Final Thoughts

.NET 10 Preview 2 gives you a peek into the future of .NET — and it’s looking fast, clean, and cloud-ready. Whether you're experimenting on your own or working with a .NET development company, now’s the time to get hands-on.

Don’t wait for the final release to start learning. By exploring Preview 2 today, you’ll be one step ahead tomorrow.

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