If we look at this framework from a more developer-like point of view, we could say that what makes .NET Core different from other choices can be summarized in the following points:
- Cross-platform: This means execution on Windows, macOS and Linux, and also its portability to other operating systems. You can check the list of supported operating systems on various sites, such as https://github.com/dotnet/core/blob/master/roadmap.md, and you should bear in mind that CPUs and application scenarios will keep growing, whether they are provided by Microsoft or other companies.
- Compatibility: .NET Core is not only compatible with the .NET Framework, but also with Xamarin and Mono, thanks to the .NET Standard Library. As the official documentation states, the .NET Standard Library is,
"a formal specification of .NET APIs that are intended to be available on all .NET runtimes. The motivation behind the Standard Library is establishing greater uniformity in the .NET ecosystem...