Overview of the .NET Framework

What is the .NET Framework

• A new computing platform designed to simplify application development

• A consistent object-oriented programming environment

• A code-execution environment that:

– Minimizes software deployment and versioning conflicts

Primary Components of .NET

• .NET Framework Class Libraries– Object-oriented collection of reusable types– Sits on-top of the Common Language Runtime

• Common Language Runtime (CLR)– Manages code execution at runtime– Memory management, thread management, etc.– Code designed for the CLR is referred to as

“Managed Code”

.NET Framework Class Libraries

• Sit on top of the CLR• Reusable types that tightly integrate with the

CLR• Object oriented – inheritance, polymorphism,

etc.• Provide functionality for ASP.NET, XML Web

Services, ADO.NET, Windows Forms, basic system functionality (IO, XML, etc.)

Operating SystemOperating System

Common Language Runtime (CLR)

Inside the .NET Framework

Base Framework

Data and XML

Web Services User Interface

VB C++ C#

ASP.NET

J# Python …

Secure, integrated class libraries

•Unifies programming models across languages

•Enables cross-language integration

•Factored for extensibility

•Designed for tools

Secure, integrated class libraries

•Unifies programming models across languages

•Enables cross-language integration

•Factored for extensibility

•Designed for tools

Common Language Runtime

Executes code, maintains security, handles component “plumbing” and dependencies

Common Language Runtime

Executes code, maintains security, handles component “plumbing” and dependencies

ASP.NET

High-productivity environment for building and running Web services

ASP.NET

High-productivity environment for building and running Web services

One Runtime For Many Languages

• CLR is an open standard• Any language can make use of CLR services• Any language can use classes written in any

other language• Any language can inherit classes written in any

other language

AdaAda APLAPL Basic (Visual Basic)Basic (Visual Basic) C#C# CC C++C++ Java LanguageJava Language COBOLCOBOL Component PascalComponent Pascal

(Queensland Univ of Tech)(Queensland Univ of Tech)

ECMAScript (JScript)ECMAScript (JScript) Eiffel (Eiffel (Monash Monash

University)University) Haskell Haskell

(Utrecht University)(Utrecht University)

Current List of Language Compilers lcc lcc

(MS Research Redmond)(MS Research Redmond) Mondrian Mondrian (Utrecht)(Utrecht)

ML ML (MS Research Cambridge)(MS Research Cambridge)

Mercury Mercury (Melbourne U.) (Melbourne U.)

Oberon Oberon (Zurich University)(Zurich University)

Oz (Oz (Univ of Saarlandes)Univ of Saarlandes)

PerlPerl PythonPython Scheme Scheme

(Northwestern U.)(Northwestern U.) SmallTalkSmallTalk

AssemblyAssembly

Compilation And Execution

Source Source CodeCode

Language Language CompilerCompiler

CompilationCompilation

CodeCode (IL)(IL)

MetadataMetadata