For .NET developers, the NuGet package manager has long been the backbone of managing and restoring dependencies. It makes .NET such a powerful and flexible platform for modern software development. However, restoring packages—particularly in larger, dependency-heavy projects—has historically been a bottleneck, frustrating developers and slowing innovation.
Enter .NET 9 and its game-changing new NuGet resolver. This update promises dramatically faster package restores, boosting efficiency and reducing developers' waiting time. Want to understand the full impact? Keep reading as we break down what's new, why it matters, and how you can leverage it in your projects.
NuGet is the central package manager for .NET, enabling developers to easily share, consume, and manage packages. NuGet ensures your project has everything to compile, run, and scale effectively, from libraries to tools. But NuGet isn't just about adding packages. It's about ensuring your project stays reliable and up-to-date, even as your dependencies grow.
Managing and restoring packages—a routine yet critical step in .NET workflows—hasn't always been seamless. For developers working on large-scale or enterprise projects, the frustration of dealing with slow package restores has often felt like a pain point that needed urgent solving. We understand this, and that's why we're excited to introduce .NET 9's new NuGet resolver.
Before .NET 9, package restores could be both time-consuming and resource-intensive. Developers frequently encountered challenges such as:
1. Long restore times for projects with extensive dependencies.
2. Frequent delays in CI/CD pipelines, where package restores often bloated build and deployment cycles.
3. Inefficient resolution of dependencies, leading to redundancies and wasted computation.
For teams managing complex solutions with dozens or even hundreds of dependencies, these inefficiencies could translate into lost productivity, missed deadlines, and higher costs.
With .NET 9, Microsoft introduces a wholly re-engineered NuGet resolver. This upgrade focuses on streamlining dependency resolution, cutting down redundant operations, and enabling faster, more efficient package restores. Here's what makes it revolutionary:
Instead of processing dependencies sequentially, the new resolver efficiently resolves them in parallel threads, drastically improving speed for multi-dependency projects.
Leveraging more brilliant caching mechanisms, the resolver reuses previously downloaded or restored packages more effectively, minimizing unnecessary downloads or redundant calculations.
The resolver now builds smarter dependency graphs, focusing on direct changes and avoiding recalculation for unaltered packages—critical for iterative development.
It can handle far more complex solutions and hierarchies and aligns particularly well with enterprise-grade applications.
The result? Faster, smoother, and more reliable restores save time and resources.
Before adopting .NET 9, this e-commerce team struggled with 5-minute package restoration times during builds, which were a noticeable drag on workflow. With the new NuGet resolver, restore times dropped to just 30 seconds.
This improvement enabled quicker iteration and facilitated the launch of a significant feature on time, contributing to a 20% increase in user engagement.
A fintech startup faced significant bottlenecks with package restores reaching as high as 10 minutes, hampering their ability to test iterations on financial models. Post-upgrade, restore times were slashed by 80%, averaging 2 minutes.
This change empowered the Team to iterate faster, developing a more robust and accurate platform that impressed their clients. The relief and empowerment that come with faster package restores are significant benefits of the new resolver.
This SaaS enterprise previously endured 8-minute restore times that slowed updates and reduced client satisfaction. After migrating to .NET 9, restore times dropped to 2.5 minutes, enabling faster feature delivery and a 15% increase in client satisfaction.
Want to experience the benefits of the new NuGet resolver? Here's a step-by-step guide to upgrade and get started:
Ensure your projects and CI/CD pipelines are backed up. Test your project compatibility using the .NET Upgrade Assistant.
Download the latest version of .NET 9 from the Microsoft website. Follow the installation guide provided for your OS.
Open your solution, update all your NuGet dependencies, and ensure no incompatibilities arise.
While the resolver is enabled by default in .NET 9, use `dotnet restore` to confirm compatibility across all solutions.
After upgrading, run your tests and evaluate restore times to confirm the expected performance boost.
Update pipeline configurations to fully utilize the re-engineered resolver for automated builds.
Avoid unnecessary packages and use tools like Dependency Analyzer to clean up unused libraries.
Generate `packages.lock.json` files to prevent unintended updates or inconsistencies in package versions.
Persist NuGet caches between builds to avoid repeated downloads or resolution cycles in automated pipelines.
For enterprise projects, consider using private NuGet feeds to reduce dependency on public sources and enhance restore speeds.
Microsoft is setting the stage for further innovations by introducing the new NuGet resolver. Potential future advancements include:
1. More competent AI-driven dependency management for predicting issues and auto-resolving conflicts.
2. Enhanced cloud-based solutions that integrate directly with Azure DevOps, providing even faster scaling for massive projects.
3. Advanced reporting features to monitor dependency health and usage for enterprise users.
With its unparalleled improvement in package restore speeds, .NET 9's new NuGet resolver is poised to transform how developers build and manage applications. Faster restores mean more time spent innovating, less time waiting, and an undeniable advantage in a competitive software landscape.
If you're a .NET developer, upgrading to .NET 9 isn't just an option—it's a necessity. The new NuGet resolver is a game-changer, and we encourage you to give it a shot and share your experience with the .NET community. And if you've already started using the new resolver, what's been your experience so far? Join the conversation!
Contact us today to schedule a free, 20-minute call to learn how DotNet Expert Solutions can help you revolutionize the way your company conducts business.
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