NET Framework and Architecture

.NET Framework.

.Net is a software component developed by Microsoft which runs under the operating system. .Net framework is platform which is released in the year 2002. Later on, several improvements have been taken place for the stronger and efficient platform. The .Net framework is a revolutionary platform that helps you to write the following types of applications:

 Windows applications

 Web applications

 Web services

The .Net framework applications are multi-platform applications. The framework has been designed in such a way that it can be used from any of the following languages: C#, C++, Visual Basic, Jscript, COBOL, etc. All these languages can access the framework as well as communicate with each other. .net is called .net framework because it supports multiple languages, technology, and database. In dot net, we have nearly 60+ languages, only 9 languages were developed by Microsoft, other languages were developed by third party. In each we have multiple technologies such as ASP.NET, ADO.NET etc and MS-Access, SQL server for database.

.Net Architecture:

NET is tiered, modular, and hierarchal. Each tier of the .NET Framework is a layer of abstraction. .NET languages are the top tier and the most abstracted level. The common language runtime is the bottom tier, the least abstracted, and closest to the native environment. This is important since the common language runtime works closely with the operating environment to manage .NET applications. The .NET Framework is partitioned into modules, each with its own distinct responsibility. Finally, since higher tiers request services only from the lower tiers, .NET is hierarchal. The architectural layout of the .NET The framework is illustrated in Figure below.

C#	VC++		VB.NET
Console and windows application		Web application
ADO.NET  and XML
BCL (Base Class Library)/ FCL (Frame Class Library)
CLR(Common Language Runtime)
OS (operating system) (32 bit / 64 bit)

                                                         Figure 1.1 : .Net Architecture

 NET Framework is a managed environment. The common language runtime monitors the execution of .NET applications and provides essential services. It manages memory, handles exceptions, ensures that applications are well-behaved, and much more.

Language interoperability is one goal of .NET. .NET languages share a common runtime (the common language runtime, a common class library), the Framework Class Library (FCL), a common component model, and common types. In .NET, the programming language is a lifestyle choice. Except for subtle differences, C#, VB.NET or JScript.NET offers a similar experience.

.NET abstracts lower-level services, while retaining most of their flexibility. This is important to C-based programmers, who shudder at the limitations presented in Visual Basic 6 and earlier.