Question 1

Is ASP.NET SignalR still supported or should I use something else?

Accepted Answer

ASP.NET SignalR for .NET Framework is in maintenance mode, meaning only critical bug fixes are applied without new features. For new projects, migrate to ASP.NET Core SignalR, which is actively developed and supports modern .NET versions.

Question 2

SignalR vs ASP.NET Core SignalR: which one is better for my project?

Accepted Answer

Use ASP.NET SignalR only if you're stuck on .NET Framework with System.Web or Katana and need minimal changes. ASP.NET Core SignalR is superior for new projects, offering better performance, cross-platform support, and ongoing updates. The choice depends on your tech stack and future plans.

Question 3

How to upgrade from ASP.NET SignalR to ASP.NET Core SignalR?

Accepted Answer

Start by migrating your application to ASP.NET Core, then replace the SignalR library with the Core version. Microsoft provides migration guides, but expect significant code changes due to architectural differences, especially around dependency injection and middleware configuration.

Question 4

Can SignalR handle large numbers of concurrent connections reliably?

Accepted Answer

For .NET Framework, SignalR scales reasonably but has limits compared to ASP.NET Core SignalR, which includes optimizations like connection pooling. In maintenance mode, you won't see improvements, so for high-scale apps, consider upgrading to Core for better performance.

Question 5

What are good alternatives to SignalR for real-time in .NET?

Accepted Answer

Beyond ASP.NET Core SignalR, alternatives include using raw WebSockets with libraries like WebSocketSharp, or third-party services like Pusher or Socket.IO with .NET backends. For modern .NET, gRPC-streaming or Azure SignalR Service are also options, but SignalR remains a solid choice for simplicity in legacy contexts.

Question 6

How to debug SignalR connection issues in an old ASP.NET app?

Accepted Answer

Use browser developer tools to monitor WebSocket traffic, check server logs for errors, and ensure transport fallbacks are working. Since documentation is outdated, rely on community resources like StackOverflow with the 'signalr' tag, but be aware fixes might be limited due to maintenance mode.

SignalR

What is SignalR?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions