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Guide · Open source

How to use dotnet/core: .NET release notes and support status

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

dotnet/core is the official GitHub repository where Microsoft publishes .NET release notes, a table of supported .NET versions with their end-of-support dates, and links to news in GitHub Discussions. It is a documentation and news hub, not a software package you install. This guide shows you how to read the support table, find release notes for a specific patch, and follow announcements and security notices.

.NETdotnet/core · ★ 22.1k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Open the repository. Go to the dotnet/core page on GitHub, or clone it with git clone https://github.com/dotnet/core.
  2. 2Find your .NET version. Look in the Releases table for the version you use and note its End of Support date.
  3. 3Read the release notes. Follow the version link to its release notes, then open the Latest Patch Version link for patch details.
  4. 4Check the release policies. Follow the release type link to see what STS and LTS mean before you plan an upgrade.
  5. 5Subscribe to news. Open the News discussions category and add its RSS feed, or subscribe to all discussions.
  6. 6Install .NET separately. Use the download and installation links in the README to get the .NET software itself.

What dotnet/core contains and what it does not

The README describes this repository as the home of .NET release notes and news. It is a place to read and follow, not something you install or run.

The README points to separate pages for downloading and installing .NET, so if you need the software itself, start there instead.

  • Release notes for .NET versions
  • A table of releases under active support or development
  • News and security notices in GitHub Discussions
  • Links to official download and install pages

Check which .NET version is still supported

The Releases table lists each version with its release date, release type, support phase, latest patch version, and end of support date. Use the End of Support column to see how long a version will receive updates.

The README lists .NET 11.0, .NET 10.0, .NET 9.0 and .NET 8.0 in the table. Release type is either STS or LTS, and the table links to a release-policies page that explains these terms.

  • Support phase shows where a version is in its life, such as Go-Live, Active or Maintenance
  • End of Support is the date after which the version stops receiving updates
  • Release type links to the release policies page

Read release notes for a specific patch

Each version in the table links to its release notes page. Each latest patch version also links to its own notes, so you can see what changed in that specific update.

The top-level release notes page is the starting point for older or preview releases that the table does not show.

  • Open the version link, such as the .NET 10.0 release notes, for the overview
  • Open the Latest Patch Version link for details on that patch
  • Use the Releases page to see the full list of releases

Get announcements and security notices

The README says GitHub Discussions contains the latest news on releases, including PSAs and CVEs. The News category is the most direct place to look for these notices.

You can also subscribe with RSS. The README lists Atom feed links for all discussions, News, and General.

  • All Discussions feed: https://github.com/dotnet/core/discussions.atom
  • News feed: https://github.com/dotnet/core/discussions/categories/news.atom
  • General feed: https://github.com/dotnet/core/discussions/categories/general.atom

Get a local copy of the repository

If you want the files on your own machine, such as to read the release notes offline, clone the repository with git. The README gives this command.

The repository holds release notes and news, not the main .NET runtime source code. For that, see the related projects listed below.

git clone https://github.com/dotnet/core

What people use it for

  • Checking whether a production application's .NET version still receives updates
  • Planning an upgrade by comparing End of Support dates across versions
  • Reading the release notes for a patch before applying it
  • Following CVE and PSA notices through an RSS reader

Frequently asked questions

Is dotnet/core a .NET installer?

No. The README describes it as a documentation and news hub, not a software package you install. It links to separate download and installation pages for .NET.

How do I check which .NET versions are supported?

Open the Releases table in the README. The Support phase and End of Support columns show whether each version is still supported and until when.

Is dotnet/core free to use?

The repository is licensed under MIT, according to the project information. The README itself does not describe pricing for .NET downloads.

How do I get .NET security notices?

The README says GitHub Discussions includes news on releases, including PSAs and CVEs. You can subscribe to the News category through its Atom RSS feed.

Does dotnet/core contain the .NET runtime source code?

As far as the README shows, no. It holds release notes and news. For runtime source code, the README's related projects include dotnet/runtime.

What is the difference between dotnet/core and dotnet/docs or dotnet/sdk?

dotnet/core covers release notes, support status and news. The related projects dotnet/docs, dotnet/runtime and dotnet/sdk are separate repositories and may suit other needs, such as documentation or the SDK code.

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Our verdict

dotnet/core is the right place for developers and teams who need to confirm which .NET version is still supported, plan an upgrade, or follow release and security notices. If you want to install .NET or read the runtime source code, use the official download pages or the dotnet/runtime repository instead.

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