By now you should have a good idea of what the .NET Framework is and how the languages
including C# relate to it. You will be able to locate and download the necessary software
and install it on your PC. Below is a summary of some of the concepts covered in this section.
The .NET Framework consists of two main components; the .NET Framework
Class Library and the Common Language Runtime.
The Common Language Runtime implements the Common Language Infrastructure.
The Common Language Runtime manages the code when execution takes place.
The .NET Framework Class Library provides classes to ease the writing of
applications for the .NET Framework.
There are three main types of application you can write with the .NET
Framework; console, windows and web applications.
Microsoft support three languages for the .NET Framework; C++, C#, Visual Basic.
C# is the newest language to be introduced in 2001.
.NET applications are stored in Intermediate code to allow cross platform
compatibility in assemblies.
.NET applications are compiled into native code using a Just-In-Time
compiler written specifically for the platform upon which the application is to be run.
Version 1.1 of the .NET Framework was released in 2003.
In order to develop applications for the .NET Framework, you should
download the Redistributable package and the Software Development Kit.
There are four Integrated Development Environments that will allow you to
build applications with the new C# language; Visual Studio, SharpDevelop, C# Builder and Mono.
There are two Integrated Development Environments that will allow you to
build application with visual Basic and C++; Visual Studio and SharpDevelop.
Version 2.0 of the .NET Framework was released in November 2005.
Version .NET 3.0 Framework includes Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) and Windows CardSpace™.
The WPF engine is responsible for creating, displaying, and manipulating user-interfaces, documents, images, movies, and media in Windows Vista.
WCF is a set of .NET technologies for building and running connected systems.
A WF workflow is composed of activities which represent discreet pieces of functionality that are used to run specific business activities.
Windows CardSpace simplifies and improves the safety of accessing resources and sharing personal information on the Internet by bringing us the concept of digital identity.
LINQ stands for Language-Integrated Query and gives .NET some general-purpose query facilities that apply to all sources of information, including SQL and XML data.
| Term |
Description |
| .NET Framework |
Microsoft's new application platform |
| Assembly |
Executable code stored in an Intermediate Language |
| C++ |
Powerful programming language developed in 1983 |
| C# |
Programming language developed in 2001 |
| C# Builder |
IDE developed by Borland, released in 2003 |
| CIL |
Common Intermediate Language |
| CLI |
Common Language Infrastructure ratified by ECMA in 2001 |
| CLR |
Common Language Runtime |
| CLS |
Common Language Specification |
| Console application |
Application that runs in the command prompt window. |
| CTS |
Common Type System |
| ECMA |
European Computer Manufacturers Association |
| FCL |
Framework Class Library |
| GC |
Garbage Collector |
| IDE |
Integrated Development Environment |
| ISO |
International Standards Organization |
| J# |
Microsoft implementation of the Java programming language |
| JIT Compiler |
Just-In-Time Compiler |
| Metadata |
Information associated with the managed code |
| Mono |
IDE to run .NET on Linux |
| MSIL |
Microsoft Intermediate Language |
| Native code |
Code that runs on a specific platform |
| SharpDevelop |
Open Source IDE developed to create .NET applications |
| Source file |
Code written in a .NET language |
| VES |
Virtual Execution System |
| Visual Basic |
Microsoft programming language |
| Visual Studio |
Microsoft IDE for developing .NET applications |
| Web application |
Application that runs from within a html page |
| Windows application |
Application that runs within Microsoft Windows |
| WCF |
Windows Communication Foundation is a technology for building and running connected systems. |
| Windows CardSpace |
Technology implementing the digital identity. |
| WF |
Windows Workflow Foundation is a technology used to run specific business activities within an application. |
| WPF |
Windows Presentation Foundation is a technology responsible for creating, displaying, and manipulating user-interfaces, documents, images, movies, and media in Windows Vista. |