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Introduction To .NET Framework

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Introduction :
The .NET framework is an integrated component of windows operating system that supports
development and execution of next generation applications, Windows store apps and
services. It acts as the framework for a number of programming languages which provide
interoperability between them. It includes a .NET library which is available to all languages
that it supports.
Software programs written for .NET run in an environment called the Common Language
Runtime (CLR) which is an application virtual machine providing memory management and
exception handling. The .NET base class library delivers the database connectivity, data
access, user interface, web application development, algorithms and network communications
used by .NET programmers in conjunction with their custom software development.
In short, .NET Framework provides an environment for building, developing and running
Microsoft windows services and applications. It consists of three distinct technologies:
1. Common Language Runtime (CLR)
2. Framework Based Classes
3. User interface components (ASP.NET and Windows forms)


Figure 1.1 .NET framework overview

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Components of .NET Framework Architecture :


Figure 1.2 Components of .NET Framework Architecture

The CLR manages memory, threat execution, and code execution softly verification,
compilation (common concept) and other system services for managed code. The code that
runs within the CLR runs in an encapsulation and managed environment, separate from other
process on the machine.
The runtime enforce code compactness by implementing a strict type and code verification
infrastructure called the CTS. CTS are a universal type system for .NET framework. In
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addition to defining all types the CTS also stipulates the rules that the CLR fallows with
regard to application declaring and using these types in the world of .NET everything in the
CTS is an object. In fact, not only is everything an object but even more importantly all
object, implicitly derived from a single base class defined as part of CTS. This base class
called system object.
CLS ensures seamless inter operability between CLS complaint Language and class
Libraries. Because the same .NET base class libraries shared between all programming
languages. A developer can take his or her knowledge of this library with him as he or she
migrates from language to language. Thus run time accelerate development language of
chaise yet take full advantage of runtime. Class library component written in other language
other developers.
All .NET programs are compiled to an intermediate language MSIL files, rather than to
native code which can be understood by the computers processor. This MSIL code is then
compiler to native code either when the application is installed or when the application is run,
which is then executed by the machine processor since managed code is neighbor interpreted,
thus run time enhance performance finally the runtime can be hosted by high performance
server side applications such as Microsoft SQL server and internet information services (IIS).

Common Language Runtime (CLR) :

We can say CLR is the heart and soul of the .NET Framework. As the name suggests, CLR
provides run time environment in which the program written in C# and other .NET languages
are executed. It also supports cross language interoperability.

CLR supports a number of services as follows:
1. Loading and execution of the program
2. Memory isolation for application
3. Compilation of IL into native executable code
4. Memory management (automatic garbage collection)
5. Enforcement of security
6. Managing errors and exceptions
7. Support for tasks such as debugging and profiling
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8. Interoperability with other systems


Figure 1.3 Working of Common Language Runtime (CLR)

The .NET Framework provides multiple language support using the features known as
Common Type System that build into the CLR. The CTS supports a variety of types and
operations found in most programming languages and therefore calling one language from
another does not require type conversions. We can build .NET program in a number of other
languages including C++ and Visual Basic.

Common Language Specification (CLS) :

The CLS specification defines a set of rules that enables interoperability on the .NET
platform. These rules guide the third party compiler designers and library builders. The CLS
is a subset of CTS and therefore the language supporting the CLS can use each others' class
libraries as if they are their own.

Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) :

MSIL simply called IL is an instruction set into which all the .NET programs are compiled. It
is akin to assembly language and contains instructions for loading, storing, initializing and
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calling methods. When we compile a C# program or any program written in a CLS compliant
language, the code is compiled into MSIL.

The .NET Framework Class Library (FCL) :

.NET has an extensive library, offering literally thousands of reusable types. Organized into
namespaces, the FCL contains code supporting all the .NET technologies, such as Windows
Forms, Windows Presentation Foundation, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, Windows Workflow, and
Windows Communication Foundation. In addition, the FCL has numerous cross-language
technologies, including file I/O, networking, text management, and diagnostics. As
mentioned earlier, the FCL has CLR support in the areas of built-in types, exception
handling, security, and threading.

VB.NET :
Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET) is an object-oriented computer programming language
implemented on the .NET Framework. Although it is an evolution of classic Visual Basic
language, it is not backwards-compatible with VB6, and any code written in the old version
does not compile under VB.NET.

VB.NET is implemented by Microsoft's .NET framework. Therefore, it has full access to all
the libraries in the .Net Framework. It's also possible to run VB.NET programs on Mono, the
open-source alternative to .NET, not only under Windows, but even Linux or Mac OSX.

ASP.NET :
Here are some points that give the quick overview of ASP.NET :
1. ASP.NET provides services to allow the creation, deployment, and execution of Web
Applications and Web Services.
2. Like ASP, ASP.NET is a server-side technology and runs on Microsoft Internet
Information Server (IIS).
3. Web Applications are built using Web Forms. ASP.NET comes with built-in Web
Forms controls, which are responsible for generating the user interface. They mirror
typical HTML widgets like text boxes or buttons. If these controls do not fit your
needs, you are free to create your own user controls.
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Figure 1.4 ASP.NET
ASP.NET was developed in direct response to the problems that developers had with classic
ASP. Since ASP is in such wide use, however, Microsoft ensured that ASP scripts execute
without modification on a machine with the .NET Framework. Thus, IIS can house both ASP
and ASP.NET scripts on the same machine.

ADO.NET :
ADO.NET is a large set of .NET classes that enable us to retrieve and manipulate data, and
update data sources, in very many ways. As an integral part of the .NET framework, it shares
many of its features; features such as multi-language support, garbage collection, just-in-time
compilation, object-oriented design, and dynamic caching, and is far more than an upgrade of
previous versions of ADO. It is a part of the .NET framework architecture. It is a model used
by .NET applications to communicate with a database for retrieving, accessing, and updating
data.
ADO.NET is set to become a core component of any data-driven .NET application or Web
Service, and understanding its power will be essential to anyone wishing to utilize .NET data
support to maximum effect.