Introduction of .Net Framework

.Net Framework is an internal windows component that consist of a Virtual Execution System called Common Language Runtime (CLR) and a set of Class Libraries that supports the execution of applications created by various programming languages.

.Net Framework is used to bridge the gap between appplications created in different languages and provide interoperability between them.

.Net Framework consist of Classes, Interfaces and Value types that help in speeding up the development process and provide access to system functionality.

.Net framework consist a Virtual Execution System that is Common Language Runtime , provides functionalities such as Memory Management , Exception Handling, Debugging, Security, Thread Execution , Code Execution, Code safety , Verification and Compilation.

The CLR automatically releases the resources when they are no longer in use. This Automatic Memory Management resolves the issue of memory leaks and invalid memory references.

.NET Framework provides easy deployement of applications. It provides the deployement of application in the form of Assemblies so that registry entries are not required to store information about components and applications.

Components of .Net Framework

.Net Framework has many components that are listed below :-

Common Language Runtime CLR
Framework Base Class Library
Windows Forms
ASP.NET
Console Application
ADO.Net that stands for Activex Data Objects for .Net
.Net Framework Class Library
Common Language Specification that is CLS
Common Type System that is CTS
Dot Net Languages
Windows Workflow Foundation that is WF
Windows Presentation Foundation that is WPF
Windows Communication Foundations that is WCF
Language Integrated Query that is LINQ
Entity Framework and Data Services
ASP.NET AJAX
New Compilers for VB,C# and C++

Benefits of .Net Framework

Consistent Programming Model
Cross Platform Support
Language Interoperability
Automatic Management of Resources
Ease of Deployement
Support for Dynamic Data Types
Improved Integrated Debugger
Access to Office InterOp objects
Named and Optional arguments.

Evaluation of .Net

The first version of .NET is released with the name of .NET Framework 1.0 on Feb 13,2002 along with Visual Studio .NET 2002 IDE.
The Second version of .NET is released with the name of .NET Framework 1.1 with Visual Studio .NET 2003 IDE.
The Third version of .NET is released with the name of .NET Framework 2.0 with Visual Studio .NET 2005 IDE.
The Fourth version of .NET is released with the name of .NET Framework 3.0 with Visual Studio .NET 2006 IDE.
The Fifth version of .NET is released with the name of .NET Framework 3.5 with Visual Studio .NET 2007 IDE.
The Sixth version of .NET is released with the name of .NET Framework 4.0 with Visual Studio .NET 2010 IDE.