If you are willing to try out the new features, you can download the runtimes, SDKs, and the ASP .NET Core from the direct download links given below for the following operating systems:
WindowsLinuxMacOS
But before you do, we suggest you read through the new features highlighted below.
New in .NET 7 Preview 2
Support
Since .NET 7 is the current release of .NET, it will receive free support and patches from Microsoft for the next 18 months. In terms of operating systems, this release will be compatible with the following architectures on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) version 8:
AMD x64Intel x64ARM (aarch64)IBM ZLinuxONE (s390x)
RegEx Source Generator
The RegEx source generator was first introduced in .NET 7 Preview 1. It is a RegEx engine optimized for your particular pattern, just without the overhead of having to build the engine at runtime. It brings all of the performance benefits from the compiled engine without the startup cost, and it also has additional benefits, like providing a great debugging experience as well as being trimming-friendly. To learn how to use this feature, refer to this Microsoft post.
SDK Improvements
The “dotnet new” command has been given a more consistent and intuitive interface for many of the subcommands that users already use. Furthermore, support for tab completion of template options and arguments has been massively updated, which now gives rapid feedback on valid arguments and options as the user types. All of the commands in the “dotnet new –help” output no longer have the “–” prefix that they do today. This is more in line with what users expect from subcommands in a CLI application. There are many other improvements in .NET 7 Preview 2. If you want to read more, refer to this Microsoft blog post.
Download .NET 7 Preview 2
Use the direct download links below to download the .NET 7 Preview 2 Runtime, SDKs, and ASP.NET Core matching your operating system and architecture:
Runtime
Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Desktop Runtime for Windows x64 Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Desktop Runtime for Windows x86 Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Desktop Runtime for Windows ARM64 Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Runtime for macOS x64 Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Runtime for macOS ARM64 Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Runtime Binaries for Linux Arm32 Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Runtime Binaries for Linux Arm64 Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Runtime Binaries for Linux Arm32 Alpine Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Runtime Binaries for Linux Arm64 Alpine Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Runtime Binaries for Linux x64 Download .NET 7.0.0 Preview 2 Runtime Binaries for Linux x64 Alpine
SDKs
Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 for Windows x64 Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 for Windows x86 Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 for Windows ARM64 Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 for macOS x64 Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 for macOS ARM64 Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux Arm32 Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux Arm64 Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux Arm32 Alpine Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux Arm64 Alpine Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux x64 Download .NET SDK 7.0.100 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux x64 Alpine
ASP.NET Core
Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 Hosting Bundle for Windows Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 for Windows x64 Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 for Windows x86 Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 Binaries for Windows ARM64 Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 Binaries for macOS x64 Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 Binaries for macOS ARM64 Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux Arm32 Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux Arm64 Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux Arm32 Alpine Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux Arm64 Alpine Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux x64 Download ASP.NET Core Runtime 7.0.0 Preview 2 Binaries for Linux x64 Alpine More download and install options here.
Install .NET 7 Preview 2
You can begin by downloading .NET 7 Preview 2 for your architecture from the links above and then execute it to begin the installation process. You have now installed .NET 7 Preview 1. You may check which .NET version is running by typing in the following command in Command Prompt:
Final Thoughts
Since this is a preview release, it might not be entirely stable. Therefore we suggest that you only install it on non-production environments until the stable release. For now, it can be used with Visual Studio 17.2 Preview 1 since Microsoft has already tested its compatibility. Also see:
Download .NET 7 Preview 3 (Offline Installers)Download .NET 7 Preview 1 (Offline Installers)Download .NET 7 Preview 4 (Offline Installers)Download .NET 7 Preview 7 (Offline Installers)Download .NET 7 Preview 5 (Offline Installers)
