C# Tutorial - Applications

The .NET Framework can be used to create many types of application. Some of the different types of applications that can be developed using the .NET Framework are:

  • Windows applications
  • Class libraries
  • Windows Control libraries
  • ASP.NET Web applications
  • ASP.NET Web Services
  • Web Control libraries
  • Console applications
  • Windows Services
  • Setup projects
  • Visual Studio .NET add-ins
  • Office 2008 add-ins
  • WPF applications
  • WPF browser applications
  • WPF control libraries

The three common applications that you may already know about are console applications, windows applications and web applications. Each of these can be written in any of the .NET languages, as they all compile into the same Intermediate Language.

Console applications run from the command prompt. Before the days of windows, computers ran on what we know as DOS, for the IBM compatible machines this was specifically MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System). Nowadays this is emulated in the use of the command prompt that can be found in the Accessories folder of the start menu. All written output from the application is shown in the command prompt window.

Windows applications are known in the .NET Framework as Windows Forms applications. These look like your normal applications that you run on the windows platform, they include buttons, text boxes, drop down list, graphics and all manner of other items that we normally associate with windows applications. The output is graphical and often includes audio, such a media player that ships with windows. This is also the format that most games take.

Web applications appear on a web page, with the output appearing on the same page. The .NET Framework uses ASP technology to create web applications.

Console Application

Windows Application

Web Application

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