introduction to .Net Framework 15 out .Net is that it delivers software as web services and the framework provided by Microsoft Net for universal services. Another important fact about .Net that you should always remember is that {can run on any browser and on any platform. Microsoft Net is purely based on new web standards xd is based on a new model; server centric computing model. Here are some of the main web tandards on which Net is based: + UDDI: is a standard on which .Net is based in order to discover & search various Web Services. Remember that in Microsoft's ‘Net terminology, Software is called as web services. + SOAP: defines the standard format to be used when requesting any Web Service. + HTTP: the classic standard that defines the communication protocol between various Internet Applications regardless of their platform. + XML: defines the format to be used for exchanging data between various Internet applications. .NET VERSIONS i en j Microsoft started development on the NET Framework in the late 1990s originally under the of Next Generation Windows Services (NGWS). By late 2000 the first beta versions of NET 1.0 released. Fig. 1.2 summarizes the version history: Installed by Windows Vista, Windows Server! | Version 3.5, 2008 Spt new featues. Managed ee libraries (adding Managed Managed gee lbrartos libraries | | WPF, WCF WF) Novant 7) | | eae CLR 14 CLR 2.0 CLR 2.0 CLR 2.0 cCLR4 CLR45 I NET NET -NET .NET .NET .NET Framework Framework Framework Framework Framework 4 Framework 1. SPt 2.0 SP2 3.0 SP2 35 Spt 45 Fig. 1.2: .Net version's history Each version of the NET Framework contains the common language runtime (CLR) as its core \ponent, and includes additional components such as the base class libraries and other managed ries.ae troduction Intr to Net Fran, rk retains features from the previous Versio, imewol ang e core component of the NET Framework, the CLR i. ident =o rnb apat rom the NET Framework version number. Some version oe NE is earlier version, NET Framework include a new version of the CLR, but others use an ion, rN For example, ton 4 i R version 4, but the WE the“ NET Framework version 4 includes cu ation 5 running cn a m ork includes CLR 2.0. The version of the CLR on which an applic: € deter: Telrieving the value of the Environment version property. “mind : ork Net do not have to install previous versions of the NET Framewor install the latest v or the CLR before ‘ersion, each version provides the necessary components. The followin, associated CLR 8 table(Table 1)provides a brief review of the NET Fri environment w! amework versions Version. It also shows the Visual Studio version that Provided the deve ‘hen that version of the NET Framework was introduced, Table 1: Net framework versions | _-NET Framework Version CLR Version Visual Studio Version 7 a 10 ¥ 10 Visual Studio NET i ll Visual Studio NET 2003 20 20 Visual Studio 2005 30 20 Visual Studio 2005 35 20 Visual Studio 2008 Pe 45 [2s] Visual Studio 2012/2013 All these NET Framew. ork Versions can be described as follows: (a) .NET Framework 1.0 | | . ta on, uPPOHed by Windows NT 40, Window 4 iS a i nn Developers using the NET Framework version 105% mamevork data provider. f a hhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads, * for ODBC and for Ora (b) .NET Framework la This is the first major NET Framework Upgrade, Thic «. with Service Pack 1 (SP1) and $P2 {tig Supported by This version Was s Windows ME, Windows XP, If Nj NT ti) uubsequently updated in FAMWOFK 10 is woe also provides the system support for By : 'S NT 4.0, Windows 98, windee ip version 1.9, expe Wed. installing only NET Franti] not run because it checks the version, umber of library, "Fate instances where an app! * Changes in NET Framwork 14 jn compatig (@) Bui support for Mobile ‘NET Framework, now on wi ASP NEE on™ NEF Framework incorporates the mobile Cont ase Rant Of the frame Previously avaliZble as ee 5 int ™eWork, rk ver cont 0 TOls into the Paget ik et rk anomni am ‘oduction to .Net Framework oe distributions which support for mobile (wireless) devices such as cell phones and personal data assistants (PDAs). (i) Security changes - enable Windows Forms assemblies to execute in a semi-trusted manner from the Internet, and enable Code Access Security in ASP.NET applications. (iii) Built-in support for ODBC and Oracle databases. The NET Framework Data Provider for ODBC, which previously was available as a Web download only, now ships with the .NET Framework under the namespace System.Data.Odbe for ODBC, and for Oracle now ships with the NET Framework under the namespace System. Data.OracleClient. (v) The .NET Framework version 1.1 supports side-by-side execution. Side-by-side execution is the ability to store and execute multiple versions of an application or component on the same computer. It means subsequent installations of other versions of the NET Framework or of a component will not affect the applications already installed. (v) Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) support. .NET Framework 2.0 The NET Framework version 2.0 improves scalability and performance of applications with roved caching, application deployment. It introduced a new version of the CLR with additions to sase class libraries, including generics, generic collections, and significant additions to ASP.NET. = Changes in NET Framework 2.0 in comparison with NET Framework 1.1 t for 64-bit applications that enable users to build managed code (i) It provides Suppor .d code libraries on 64-bit versions of windows. libraries or easily use unmanage (i) An access control list (ACL) is used to gr a computer. New classes have been adde code to create and modify an ACL. New member the I/O, registry, and threading classes. O.NET include support for user-defined types (UDT), alue types, snapshot isolation, and new le active result sets (MARS) with ant or revoke permission to access a resource on .d to the NET Framework that allow managed wrs that use an ACL have been added to New features in AD asynchronous database operations, XML data types, large Vv attributes that allow applications to support multip SQL Server 2005. (iv) Many additional and imy t commonly used functional and edit data on an ASP.NET Web page PNET, such as support for themes, (ii) hich make it easier to add proved ASP.NET web controls w! ssible to display lity to dynamic Web pages. It also make po ‘without writing code. skins, master (v) New personalization features for ASI pages and web parts. (vi) The new Data Protection API (DPAPI) includes four methods that allow applications to encrypt passwords, keys, (vii) Provides FIP support throu resources ising the WebRequest, and connections strings. igh which applications can access File Transfer Protocol WebResponse, and WebClient classes.oa Introduction to .Net Framework which means we can assign either normal (iii) Net Framework 2.0 suppe rts nullable types, ere y¥ror example, we can act value of an intege Values to the variables or a null value. Variable as null. (A) .NET Framework 3.0 NET Framework 3.0 was designed to be shipped as an integral part of Windows Vista Operating System and Windows Server 2008 . Nevertheless, NET 3.0 also works fine with Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, Changes in NET Framework 3. (i) Development Time is reduced. Gi) This version is essentially NET Framework 2.0 with the addition of: * Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF): It provides tools to create graphically enhanced documents and web pages. It uses 3D graphics hardware and Direct3D technologies. Windows Communications Foundation (WCF): It is a service-oriented messaging system which allows programs to interoperate locally or remotely. It is similar to Web Services. comparison with NET Framework 2.0 * Windows Workflow Foundation (WF): The purpose of WF is to let developers Greate and execute workflow-based applications. It represents the application activities graphically like flowcharts and finite state machines. * Windows CardSpace: Its a software component which securely stores a person's digital identities and provides a unified interface for choosing the identity for a particular transaction, such as logging in to a website. (e) .NET Framework 3.5 Version 3.5 SP1 of the NET Framework shipped with Windows 7. It also shipped with Windows Server 2008 R2 as an optional component. * Changes in NET Framework 3.5 in comparison with NET Framework 3,0 (i) .NET Framework 3.5, Added some new features such support for LINQ (XML, Objects and Dataset). (ii) BCL enhancements: Compression support, Client-side certificates, Sound APIs. (iii) The SP1 update added the NET Framework Client Profile set of additional enhancement as AJAX-enabled Web sites and Dynamic Data, and a small (iv) NET Framework 35 provide support for additional fe: ‘atures on Windows Mobile and Windows Embedded CE devices, lows Mobile an: (v) This release adds new functionality and provides performance certain conditions, especially with WPT where 20-45% intprovers (vi) ‘Two new data service components have been added « ADONET Entity Framework. « ADONET Data Services. improvements undet 's are expected. rr aroduction to .Net Framework 19 (vii), Two new assemblies for web development have been added: + System.Web.Abstraction + System.Web Routing (viii) It also featured a new set of controls called "Visual Basic Power Packs" which brought back Visual Basic controls such as "Line" and "Shape". .NET Framework 4.0 It includes a new version of the CLR, expanded base class libraries, and new features such as the .ged Extensibility Framework (MEE), dynamic language runtime (DLR), and code contracts. + Changes in NET Framework 4.0 in comparison with NET Framework 3.5 (i) Improvements in ADO.NET. (ii) It introduces an improved security model. (iii), New namespaces, types, and members added to existing types. (iv) The NET Framework 4 is highly compatible with applications that are built with earlier \NET Framework versions, except for some changes that were made to improve security, standards compliance, correctness, reliability, and performance. (v) Provides support for parallel computing, which target multi-core or distributed systems. (vi) Italso includes Parallel Language Integrated Query (PLINQ). (vii) New Visual Basic NET and Cif language features, such as + Implicit line continuations. + Dynamic dispatch. * Named parameters, and * Optional parameters. () Italso includes new types to work with arbitrary-precision, such types are + System. Numerics BigInteger for arithmetic. «System: Numerics.Complex for complex numbers. ‘NET Framework 4.5 Framework 4.5 was released on 15 August 2012. A number of new features were introduced is version. The NET Framework 4.5 Developer Preview is supported on Windows 7 or later. key focus is on: (ii) Better performance when retrieving resources. Zip compression improvements to reduce the size of a compressed file, (iv) Managed Extensibility Framework (MEF) that support for generic types. (v) New Asynchronous File Operations features were added to the C# and Visual Basic languages. These features add a task-based model for performing asynchronous operations.————————————__ — ye Introduction to .Net Framework (vi) Improvements in ASP.NET : * Support for model binders in Web Forms. These let you bind data controls directly to data-access methods, and automatically convert user input to and from NET Framework data types. * Support for JavaScript in client-side validation scripts. * Improved handling of client script for improved page performance. * Support for WebSockets protocol. * Support for reading and writing HTTP requests and responses asynchronously. (vii) Support for Intemationalized Domain Name (IDN) parsing. (viii) Support for Email Address Internationalization (EAI). Understanding the NET Framework is of primary importance in developing applications with Visual Basic 210. The NET Framework family also includes two versions for mobile or embedded device use. A reduced version of the framework, the NET Compact Framework, is available on Windows CE platforms, including Windows Mobile devices such as smartphones. Additionally, the -NET Micro Framework is targeted at severely resource-constrained devices. On 17 October 2013 a new version of .net framework was introduced named as .net framework 45.1 along with visual studio 2013. This version supports windows vista sp2 or later. It was included with windows 8.1 and window server 2012 sp2. On 5 May 2014 another version of .net framework was introduced named as .net framework 45.2 which requires widows vista sp2 or later. Ernst ‘NET is the framework for which we develop applications. It sits in between our application programs and operating system. Applications developed for NETrun inside NETand are controlled by NET. It supports both Windows and web applications, ‘NET provides an object oriented environment, It ensures safe execution of the code by performing required runtime validations. For example, itis never possible to access an element of an array outside the boundary. Similarly, it is not possible to a Program to write into another programs area. The runtime validations performed by NET makes the entire environment robust. Talking about the principal design features of NET framework, one of its main festures that provides developers with the freedom of using similar skill st to develop different types of computer application which can be used across various types of devices as well as environments, The next of the principal design feature of Microsoft ‘NET framework is that it is used on those computers systems which run on Microsoft windows operating systems, There is a huge library consisting of coded solutions presented for simple programming issues and a virtual machine to direct the execution of those programs which Were Written specially forthe framework It is important to note down regarding the features of NET framework is that its library can be he programming languages which are supported by .NET facilitates, Presented below is d by all t! Riad ie sumonary of Microsoft NET framework features, which will help you gain better understanding:Introduction to .Net Framework 11 nguage Interoperability uage interoperability means code written in a | is an access provided to COM component ,, to interact with code, \in a language can be used by other languages and ? SOM components in the System. In other words, this is the ability of is written using a differ i nlropesbiity can help to maximize cole reusabilily and, thereore improceii een lopment process. This can be achieved because all INET code is compiled to meaner age (IL) whether you are developing in Cl, VB.NET, NET or any other NET language, This itis possible to build applications with modules written in different languages because when compiled it will all be compiled to a common language, IL. This means a class en in one language can inherit from a class written in another language, ot an object can directly method of another class written in another NET language. ‘ommon Language Runtime It is actually a virtual machine component of the NET framework. All the programs run under irection of the CLR, thus ensuring some specific properties and behaviours in the areas of ory management, security, and exception handling. Loads the IL code of a program into the runtime, Compile the IL code into native code, Execute and manage the code, Enforce security and type safety, and provide thread support and other useful services. e code that runs within the CLR is called as managed code, whereas the code that runs outside is called unmanaged code. The CLR also provides Interoperability layer, which allows both aged and unmanaged code to interoperate with each other. it works as a layer between Operating Systems and the applications written in Net languages conforms to the Common Language Specification (CLS). The main function of Common guage Runtime (CLR) is to convert the Managed Code into native code and then execute the am. The Managed Code compiled only when it needed, that is it converts the appropriate iistructions when each function is called. The Common Language Runtime (CLRY’s Just In Time (JIT) tion converts Intermediate Language (MSIL) to native code on demand at application run anguage Independence of the power of various languages in one platform. It means ammer's can develop their applications in any of the language supposted by NET ework..NET framework supports various programming languages such as Microsoft Visual C#, oft Visual Basic.NET, Microsoft Visual J#.NET and Microsoft Visual C++.NET. ese languages converted into Common Intermediate anguage Independence makes use After Compilation the source code of all the ge (CIL) that enhances Language Independence.1,12 Introduction to .Net Framewory 4. Base Class Library ‘onallty aval l languages using th The Base Class Libra i f functionality available to al 8 the ss Library (BCL) is a library of fu : :NET Framework. The BCL provides classes that encapsulate a number ot a functions, including file reading and writing, graphic rendering, database interaction, locument manipulation. The following figure (Fig. 1.3) shows the NET framework Base Class Library: OO System.Web ‘System.Windows.Forms Services a Form Button a Descrintion HTML Controis Message Box ts J Discovery’ ‘Web Controls Protocols ‘System.Drawing [caching ‘Security Drawing 2D Printing Configuration ‘Session State Imaging Text ‘System. Data Di — sot oe Searialization Design SQL Types, XPath System Collections 10 ‘Security Runtime Configuration Net ‘Service Process Interop Services Diagnostics, Reflection Drawing 2D Remoting Globalization Resources, Tmaging Serialiation’ ig. 1.3: Base Class Library eee 5. Automatic memory management(Garbage Collection) While developing applications developers had to dev memory. Memory leaks were major reason in failure of a from developer by handling memory on its own. The gatbi objects at appropriate intervals, elop an eye on system resources like plications. NET takes this worry away age collector takes care of freeing unused A major feature of NET framework CLR is that the runti and release of an object's memory resources. Automatic memory management enhances code quality and developer productivity without negatively impacting expressiveness or performance. The Garbage Collector (GC) is responsible for collecting the objects no longer referenced by the application. The GC may automatically be invoked by the CLR or the application may explicitly invoke the GC by calling it. Objects arent released from memory wat hee invoked. ; me automatically handles the allocation 6. Security Windows platform was always criticize for poor security mechanisms Microsoft has taken gredtduction to .Net Framework 1.13 efforts to make .NET platform safe and secure for enterprise applications. Features such as type ‘safety, code access security, and role based authentication make overall application more robust and sy Development of Web Applications Jith the help of ASP.NET available on .NET, It become easy to develop web applications and services.ASP.NET provides an event driven programming model that simplify development of cb pages with complex user interface.ASP.NET server controls provide advanced user interface jements such as calendar and grids that save lot of coding from programmer's side. ype Safety g program execution, the type checker ensures that all objects and values, and the to those objects and values, have a valid type. For example, the type checker ensures that Managed Multithreading Support ications running in the CLR can utilize the managed multithreading support. The NET ork allows a single process to be divided into one or more sub processes called application Each application domain can contain one or more threads. The runtime monitors all the that have executed code within its process. Multithreading requires careful programming. life style is increasingly embracing mobile and wireless devices such as PDAs, mobiles held PCs.NET provides promising platform for programming such devices. NET Compact ork and Mobile Internet Toolkit are step ahead in this direction. Framework allows you to deploy multiple versions of an application on a system by emblies. Assemblies are the deployment units in the NET Framework. An assembly IS the IL code and metadata. The metadata contains information such as the version of the iblies on which the assembly depends. The Common Language Runtime uses the version in the metadata to determine application dependencies and enables you to execute sions of an application side-by-side. ication to load and activate multiple versions of D0ess side-by-side hosting enables an app! For example, you can run applications that 1on language runtime (CLR) in the same proce on the NET Framework 2.0 SP! and applications that are based on NET Framework 4.0 in rocess. Older components continue to use the same CLR version, and new components use LR version.5 Introduction to Net Frame, 12, Common Type System This provides the &PPlications in diffe Visual Basic NET ig i es, which you need te Necessary data types, value and object types, wl : : © deve rent ee All the NET languages ane oe ns nies ae String the same as a String in Visual C# or in Visual NEE NET lang have access to the Same class libraries. In addition, all languages are equally ase There i Superior language in NET ie. Visual Basic NET is as powerful as Visual C# or Visual C+ NET. 13. Parallel Computing The .NET Framew asynchronous code th model enables devel ork 4.0 introduces a new programming model for at greatly simplifies the work of application and lil writing multithreaded » lopers. to write ef brary developers, The zl ficient, fine-grained, and scalable Parallel code ina Natural idig, without having to work directly with threads or the thread pool. The new Parallel and Task classe and other related types, sepbort this new model. Parallel LINQ (PLINQ), which is a part implementation of LINQ to Objects, enables similar functionality through declarative syntax, 14. Dynamic Language Runtime The dynamic language runtime (DLR) is a new runtime environment for dynamic languages to the CLR. The DLR makes it easier to develop d) the NET Framework and to add dynamic features to staticall the new System Dynamic namespace is added classes that support the NET Fra System Runtime CompilerServices namespace, 15. Distributed Architecture Today's distributed applications are uch different than those we will see in the fute Microsoft certainly believes ths; they say they are betting the company onthe concept of distribu! Web services t that adds a set of servi lynamic languages to run ly typed languages. To support the DL to the NET Framework. In addition, several na mework infrastructure are added to él For example, today when a user is interacting with a portal Site, it appears to them that they 4 working with one remote server, Most of us know that is Formally not the case, at least for a sitt any significant size. There are various server ir applications behind the ceonos are aeoe! information on several remote sites, combining it with information from their user database # merging it all into an integrated product that is delivered to the user via their browser. As use! these types of applications are, they are al Very Complex to develo and maintain. Each provide" information has developed different interface. access data and pre — redundant development is Brossly inefficient and for the most ease great deal of activity around three standards lo streamline the discussed earlier, these are used in NET ang also in competin, and Sun. Son their servers: l Part fairly boring, so there has te Process: XML, SOAP, and upDLN 8. less Well known initiatives from