.NET framework is an important
Windows component that supports the execution of applications created by using
various programming languages, such as Visual C#, Visual Basic, Visual F# and
Visual C++. The .NET framework consists of a virtual execution system called
the CLR and a set of class libraries.
The .NET Framework is really a
cluster of several technologies. These include the following:
The .NET languages:
These include Visual Basic, C#, JScript .NET
(a server-side version of JavaScript), J# (a Java clone), and C++.
The Common Language Run time (CLR):
This is the engine
that executes all .NET programs and provides automatic services for these
applications, such as security checking, memory management, and optimization.
The .NET Framework class library:
The class library collects thousands of pieces
of prebuilt functionality that you can “snap in” to your applications. These
features are sometimes organized into technology sets, such as ADO.NET (the
technology for creating database applications) and Windows Forms (the
technology for creating desktop user interfaces).
ASP.NET: This is the engine that hosts
the web applications you create with .NET, and supports almost any feature from
the .NET class library. ASP.NET also includes a set of web-specific services,
like secure authentication and data storage.
Visual
Studio:
This optional development tool contains a rich set of productivity and debugging
features. The Visual Studio setup DVD includes the complete .NET Framework, so
you won’t need to download it separately.
Microsoft released the first version
of .NET with the name .NET framework 1.0 in 2002, along with the Visual
Studio.NET (2002) Integrated Development Environment (IDE).
The second revised version of .NET
took nearly a year to release and was known as .NET framework 1.1 Microsoft
Visual Studio.NET (2003).
The next version .NET framework 2.0,
was released with Visual Studio.NET (2005).NET framework 3.0 formerly called
WinFX was released in 2006.
The next version .NET framework 3.5
was released with Visual Studio.NET (2008).The latest version, .NET framework
4.0 was announced by Microsoft in 2008 and in 2010, the final version of .NET
framework 4.0 was released.
Version
|
Visual
Studio
|
Default
inWindows
|
1.0
|
Visual Studio .NET
|
|
1.1
|
Visual Studio .NET 2003
|
Windows Server 2003
|
2.0
|
Visual Studio
2005
|
Windows Server 2005
|
3.5
|
Visual Studio
2008
|
Windows Vista, Windows
Server 2008
|
4.0
|
Visual Studio 2010
|
Windows 7,Windows Server 2008
|
