Understanding LTS vs STS in .NET: Choosing the Right Support Model for Your Project

In this blog, I’ll explain the key differences between Long-Term Support (LTS) and standard-Term Support (STS) releases in .NET. Discover how each support model influences project stability, maintenance, and feature adoption, and determine which one is the best fit for your project.

In this blog, I’ll explain the key differences between Long-Term Support (LTS) and Standard-Term Support (STS) releases in .NET. Discover how each support model influences project stability, maintenance, and feature adoption, and determine which one is the best fit for your project.

What are the key differences between LTS and STS releases in .NET?

In .NET, LTS (Long-Term Support) and STS (Standard-Term Support) are the two support release models provided by Microsoft as part of the .NET release lifecycle. While the quality and support for both STS and LTS are the same, the key difference lies in their support duration.

1. LTS (Long-Term Support): LTS versions are releases that receive extended support for a longer duration, typically 3 years from the release date.
2. STS (Standard-Term Support): STS versions are releases that receive support for a shorter duration, usually 18 months from the release date.

Key differences between LTS and STS
 

	LTS	STS
Release Schedule	Every 2 years	Every year,
.Net Version	Even-numbered versions(e.g., .NET 6, .NET 8)	Odd-numbered versions (e.g., .NET 5, .NET 7, .Net 9(Latest))
Support Duration	3 years from the release date.	18 months from the release date.
Main Focus	Stability, reliability, and long-term maintenance with security and bug fixes	New features, enhancements, and performance improvements.
Ideal for	Production systems, enterprise applications, and projects with slower upgrade cycles that require long-term stability, minimal disruption, and extended support.	Projects that focus on utilizing the latest features, with teams capable of frequent upgrades and applications that prioritize innovation over long-term support.

Summary

In this blog, I have explained the key differences between Long-Term Support (LTS) and Standard-Term Support (STS) in .NET, focusing on support duration, release schedule, and primary objectives. LTS releases offer long-term stability and are ideal for production systems, while STS releases prioritize new features and are suited for projects with frequent upgrades. Understanding these differences will help you select the right release model for your project's needs.

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