.NET News

Gain Document Understanding with AI Summaries

March 27, 2026

Syncfusion Essential Studio PDF Viewer SDK 2026 Volume 1 adds an AI document summarizer for fast comprehension and information retrieval.

The Syncfusion Essential Studio PDF Viewer SDK is a high performance solution that enables developers to integrate advanced PDF viewing capabilities into web, desktop, and mobile applications. It supports features such as document navigation, annotations, form filling, digital signatures, and collaborative review, allowing users to interact with PDF content efficiently. Designed for reliability and smooth rendering of complex documents, it provides a consistent experience across platforms.

The Syncfusion Essential Studio PDF Viewer SDK 2026 Volume 1 update introduces a document summarizer that enhances how developers deliver efficient document interaction by integrating AI-generated summaries and contextual question-answering directly within PDF viewing applications. This feature enables end users to quickly extract key information and insights from large or complex documents, reducing time spent navigating content and improving overall productivity.

To see a full list of what's new in Syncfusion Essential Studio PDF Viewer SDK 2026 Volume 1, see our release notes.

Syncfusion Essential Studio PDF Viewer SDK is licensed per developer on a one year timed subscription basis, with runtime royalty free redistribution included when the subscription is current, and includes one year of unlimited technical support and updates. See our Syncfusion Essential Studio Spreadsheet Editor SDK licensing page for full details.

Learn more on our Syncfusion Essential Studio PDF Viewer SDK product page.

Microsoft Announces Availability of .NET 11 Preview 2

March 27, 2026

Update includes improvements across the .NET Runtime, SDK, libraries, ASP.NET Core, and more.

The .NET Framework, a comprehensive development platform, has been a cornerstone of Microsoft's ecosystem for over two decades. It provides a rich set of class libraries, tools, and programming languages (like C#, VB.NET, and F#) that enable developers to create a wide range of applications, from desktop software to web services and mobile apps. With the approaching release of .NET 11, Microsoft continues its commitment to delivering a modern, high-performance, and cross-platform development environment.

Microsoft has announced the release of .NET 11 Preview 2. This Microsoft blog post highlights what's new in this release and includes links to download .NET 11 Preview 2. This .NET update contains improvements across the .NET Runtime, including:

Libraries - Various features and enhancements
Runtime - Significant progress toward runtime-native async
SDK - Smaller SDK installers on Linux and macOS, Code analyzer improvements, New SDK warnings and build targets, and more
C# 15 - Collection expression arguments and Union types
F# - Simplified DIM interface hierarchies, Compiler performance improvements, and more
ASP.NET Core - Native OpenTelemetry tracing, TempData support for Blazor, OpenAPI M3.2.0 support
Much more!

Read the official Microsoft Release blog for a detailed list of all of the planned improvements in .NET 11.

Enhance Reporting with Gauge Visuals

March 26, 2026

Add gauges to reports to deliver clear, real-time visual insights that simplify complex data and highlight performance against targets.

Adding gauges to reports means incorporating visual indicators such as dial or meter style graphics that display key metrics against defined ranges or targets, making performance instantly understandable at a glance. This approach enhances report clarity by transforming complex or dense data into intuitive visuals, helping users quickly assess whether values fall within acceptable, warning, or critical thresholds. As a result, gauges support faster, more informed decision making, improve stakeholder communication, and create more engaging, user friendly reports. Common use cases include tracking sales performance against quotas, monitoring system health or uptime, visualizing budget utilization, and displaying KPI progress in executive dashboards where quick insights are essential.

Several .NET WPF Reporting controls include Gauges including:

DevExpress Reporting lets you embed customizable gauge controls in reports to visualize KPIs, enabling clear performance tracking and faster data driven decisions.
Telerik Reporting allows you to incorporate interactive gauges into reports, presenting real time metrics with intuitive visuals that enhance clarity and user engagement.
List & Label Enterprise Reporting Edition by combit facilitates adding gauge elements to reports, helping users highlight key values, thresholds, and performance trends effectively.
Stimulsoft Reports.WPF enables you to design rich reports with gauge components, delivering precise visual feedback on metrics for improved monitoring and analysis.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of .NET WPF Reporting Controls.

Compare .NET WPF Reporting Controls

Enable Secure Data Transfer with SSH

March 26, 2026

Integrate encrypted SSH communication into applications, enabling safe remote access and data exchange with minimal implementation effort.

SSH (Secure Shell) support in a .NET communication component refers to the ability to establish and manage encrypted, authenticated connections using the SSH protocol. This can enable capabilities such as remote command execution, shell access, port forwarding, and, where supported, secure file transfer through protocols such as SFTP or SCP. For software developers, it reduces the need to implement low-level cryptographic and networking functions directly, while relying on established SSH mechanisms for confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. It is particularly useful for scenarios such as remote server administration, secure transfers, and tunneling, helping applications protect sensitive data over untrusted networks.

Several .NET Core communications and messaging components offer SSH support including:

SecureBlackbox .NET Edition by /n software lets you integrate SSH connectivity, enabling encrypted communication and reliable remote command execution.
Rebex SSH Shell adds terminal access, scripting, and tunneling for .NET applications, helping developers handle interactive SSH sessions across systems securely.
PowerTCP SSH and SFTP for .NET by Dart Communications facilitates SSH-enabled communication by providing secure channels for remote access and data exchange.
SocketTools .NET Edition by Catalyst Development Corp. allows you to incorporate SSH support for secure connections, supporting encrypted sessions and remote operations.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of .NET Core comms & messaging components.

Compare .NET Core Comms & Messaging Components

Capture Freehand Ink Annotations in PDFs

March 26, 2026

Create apps that support handwritten notes in PDFs, allowing users to annotate documents directly with stylus, touch, or mouse input.

Freehand ink annotation support in a PDF component enables applications to capture and render freehand drawings directly on a PDF document, typically using input from a mouse, stylus, or touch device. It allows users to write, sketch, highlight, or mark up content in a natural way, with the annotations stored as standard PDF ink annotations that remain part of the document. For software developers, this capability adds interactive review and collaboration features to applications such as document viewers and form-processing systems, allowing users to provide visual feedback, sign documents, or annotate content without altering the original PDF structure.

Several .NET PDF components feature support for freehand ink annotations including:

Document Solutions for PDF (by MESCIUS) allows you to record freehand ink strokes and store them as standard PDF annotations for review scenarios.
DevExpress PDF Document API for .NET (part of DevExpress Office File API) lets you create, edit, and flatten Ink annotations for freehand PDF markup workflows.
PDF4NET (by PDF4DEV Solutions) facilitates drawing and preserving freehand ink annotations in PDFs, supporting stylus and touch input.
Syncfusion ASP.NET Core PDF (part of Syncfusion Essential Studio Enterprise) enables developers to capture and render freehand ink annotations in PDFs.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of .NET PDF components.

Compare .NET PDF Components