.NET Framework Fundamentals

Referenec: http://www.bogotobogo.com/CSharp/.netframework.html

.net framework

Description

Programs written for the .NET Framework execute in a software environment that manages the program’s runtime requirements. Also part of the .NET Framework, this runtime environment is known as the Common Language Runtime (CLR).

Principal design features

Interoperability

Because computer systems commonly require interaction between new and older applications, the .NET Framework provides means to access functionality that is implemented in programs that execute outside the .NET environment. Access to COM components is provided in the System.Runtime.InteropServices and System.EnterpriseServices namespaces of the framework; access to other functionality is provided using theP/Invoke feature.

Common Runtime Engine

The Common Language Runtime (CLR) is the execution engine of the .NET Framework. All .NET programs execute under the supervision of the CLR, guaranteeing certain properties and behaviors in the areas of memory management, security, and exception handling.

Language Independence

The .NET Framework introduces a Common Type System, or CTS. The CTS specification defines all possibledatatypes and programming constructs supported by the CLR and how they may or may not interact with each other conforming to the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) specification. Because of this feature, the .NET Framework supports the exchange of types and object instances between libraries and applications written using any conforming .NET language.

Base Class Library

The Base Class Library (BCL), part of the Framework Class Library (FCL), is a library of functionality available to all languages using the .NET Framework. The BCL provides classes which encapsulate a number of common functions, including file reading and writing, graphic rendering, database interaction, XML document manipulation and so on.

 

Simplified Deployment

The .NET Framework includes design features and tools that help manage the installation of computer software to ensure that it does not interfere with previously installed software, and that it conforms to security requirements.

Security

The design is meant to address some of the vulnerabilities, such as buffer overflows, that have been exploited by malicious software. Additionally, .NET provides a common security model for all applications.

Portability

The design of the .NET Framework allows it to theoretically be platform agnostic, and thus cross-platformcompatible. That is, a program written to use the framework should run without change on any type of system for which the framework is implemented.

 

Architecture

Common Language Infrastructure (CLI)

The purpose of the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI), is to provide a language-neutral platform for application development and execution

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