Modernizing .NET Applications
dotnet walks through a modernization workflow for legacy .NET applications, showing how Visual Studio 2026, .NET, and GitHub Copilot can be used together to speed up upgrades while keeping developers in control.
Overview
The session focuses on upgrading older .NET codebases with less friction by combining IDE support in Visual Studio 2026 with GitHub Copilot assistance.
What the session covers
End-to-end upgrade journey
- Moving from an initial assessment of a legacy application to a cleaner, modernized .NET codebase.
- Using tooling to reduce manual effort during the migration while maintaining developer oversight.
Copilot-assisted modernization
- Copilot-powered upgrade plans to help structure and sequence the work.
- Natural language guidance to help developers understand next steps and options during the upgrade.
- AI-driven code fixes aimed at accelerating migrations while keeping changes reviewable.
Practical approaches during upgrades
- Updating projects as part of the modernization process.
- Resolving compatibility issues that appear when moving forward to newer .NET versions.
- Adopting modern .NET features with more confidence as the codebase is brought up to date.
Real-world challenges in legacy solutions
- Handling large, multi-project solutions.
- Dealing with older frameworks and libraries.
- Working through complex technology stacks.
- Untangling deeply intertwined dependencies.
Patterns and resources
- Highlighting patterns and resources intended to help navigate difficult modernization scenarios effectively.
Links and resources
- .NET Blog: https://aka.ms/dotnet/blog
- Twitter/X: https://aka.ms/dotnet/twitter
- TikTok: https://aka.ms/dotnet/tiktok
- Mastodon: https://aka.ms/dotnet/mastodon
- LinkedIn: https://aka.ms/dotnet/linkedin
- Facebook: https://aka.ms/dotnet/facebook
- .NET Docs: https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet
- Forums: https://aka.ms/dotnet/forums
- Q&A: https://aka.ms/dotnet-qa
- Microsoft Learn: https://aka.ms/learndotnet