Microsoft released the .NET Aspire 8.1 version at the end of July. The latest version introduces a series of enhancements and new features designed for use in production environments. The most notable addition in this release is support for building container images and the also capability to orchestrate Python code.
Various improvements to the .NET Aspire dashboard and telemetry tools accompany these two major features. Enhancements include support for metrics exemplars, span links, and better instance ID names, which are also part of this release.
Introducing the AddDockerfile and WithDockerfile extension methods is a key feature of .NET Aspire 8.1. Adding these methods enables developers to edit and build Dockerfiles directly within .NET Aspire, eliminating the need for manual builds.
Additionally, .NET Aspire 8.1 expands its support for polyglot microservices by adding the AddPythonProject(...) extension method. This new feature, contributed by community member Willem Meints, allows developers to launch Python-based services alongside existing support for Node.js applications. To utilize this feature, developers must ensure that the Python hosting package is installed.
The release adds new resource types and components, broadening the platform's range of capabilities. Notable community-contributed components include support for Keycloak, Elasticsearch (currently in preview), Garnet, Valkey, and Kafka UI. Microsoft has also contributed with new support for Milvus, a vector database, as well as Azure Web PubSub and the EventHubs Emulator, enhancing local development and testing experiences.
Testing capabilities within .NET Aspire have also been enhanced. The introduction of the WaitForResourceAsync(...) API simplifies the process of writing test cases that require resource initialization. Furthermore, community member @Evangelink has contributed support for MSTest and NUnit to the test project templates, expanding testing options beyond the previously available xUnit framework.
Telemetry improvements are another focus of this release, particularly in how data is presented within the .NET Aspire Dashboard. The addition of metrics exemplars provides example data points for aggregated data, linking metrics telemetry to distributed tracing. This feature is currently supported on histogram graphs and enhances the visibility of critical data points, such as HTTP request durations.
The release also addresses issues related to the instance ID names, which were previously displayed as GUIDs in the dashboard. The new approach offers as stated clearer, more readable instance ID names, improving the user interface for developers who rely on the dashboard for monitoring their applications.
Lastly, full release notes are available and the .NET team has released numerous tutorial videos and sessions on the .NET Aspire platform, available on the official YouTube channel for developers seeking to enhance their skills and understanding of the platform.