C# -- Introduction to .NET Framework

C# - Chapter - 2

Introduction to .NET Framework

.NET Framework :-

• .NET Framework is a platform introduced by Microsoft to develop, host, deploy, maintain and execute applications.
• Applications can be

1. Console based
2. Windows based
3. Web based
4. Data Centric
5. Components
6. Web Services and so on

.NET framework is an entirely new environment for building internet-aware applications with a simplified deployment model. Different types of applications like Web Based, Windows based, data centric, Very rich GUI applications using Windows Presentation Foundation(WPF), web services and so on can be created. Moreover, these applications can be executed on any platform.

Microsoft Provides a platform or an environment to develop, host, deploy, maintain and execute applications. This environment or Platform is called .NET framework. Application can be of any type console based, window based, web based, data centric , components or a web service that can be used by any other application in a language neutral and platform independent manner.

.NET framework is a completely new model for building applications on windows family of operating systems as well as non-Microsoft Operating systems such as Mac OS and Linux/Unix.

Components of .NET Framework :-

.NET Framework consists of different components. Each component provides specific functionality.

.NET compatibility languages :-

• A Language is required to create any application. Using .NET, applications can be developed using languages such as C#, VB.NET, J#, and so on. More than 25 languages are supported by .NET Framework.

Common Language Runtime(CLR) :- 

• As mentioned earlier, different types of applications can be created using .NET framework. These applications need to be executed on any device. One of the main components of .NET - Common Language Runtime(CLR) executes the applications. So, CLR is known also Known as the execution engine or heart of .NET framework.

Framework Class Library(FCL):- 

• An application uses services in the form of components from other sources or functionality from a library. Another important components of .NET is framework class library(FCL). It also consists of classes that all applications can use to develop user interface, web pages or access  database. It also contains core classes which provide basic functionality like I/O, Security, Collections, XML support , multithreading etc.

Common Language Specification(CLS) :-

• The .NET Languages have to follow some rules. These rules are defined in Common Language Specification(CLS). If the language compilers follow these rules, the language are .NET compatible languages and their compilers are called as CLS-compliant compilers. Using CLS, third party language developers can design / redesign their language syntax as per .NET framework requirement.

Common Type System(CTS) :-

• As all the languages follow the same set of rules, code written in one language can be used by the code written in another language. This is Possible because of Common Type System (CTS). It defines common data types so that the code becomes interoperable.
• Applications can be created by using some IDE(Integrated Development Environment). This is not a part of Framework.

Microsoft Visual Studio.NET :-

• .NET applications can be easily created using Visual Studio integrated Developer Enviroment(IDE) tool. Visual Studio.NET provides in built application templates and tools for building .NET applications rapidly.

This is Just a Part of Chapter 2 Introduction to .NET framework, in next post i will update about remaining things in this chapter.

                                                                --- Seed Infotech Ltd, Bangalore.