Microsoft .NET Framework
A Microsoft .NET Framework is a software framework that is a Microsoft product designed to support the development and execution of applications primarily on Windows operating systems.
- Context:
- It can (typically) support the development of desktop applications, web applications, and mobile applications.
- It can (typically) support multiple programming languages, including C#, VB.NET, F#, and others.
- It can (typically) manage memory, handle exceptions, and provide security, ensuring the stability and robustness of applications.
- It can (often) involve a runtime environment known as the Common Language Runtime (CLR), which provides services like garbage collection, exception handling, and type safety.
- It can (often) be utilized in creating web services, RESTful APIs, and microservices architectures.
- It can (often) include a large class library called the Framework Class Library (FCL) that provides common functionality for applications.
- It can (often) be used in conjunction with Microsoft Visual Studio for developing, debugging, and deploying applications.
- It can (often) integrate with other Microsoft technologies such as Azure, SQL Server, and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF).
- It can (often) be employed in the development of Software Application Platforms and Software Solution Stacks, providing a comprehensive foundation for building complex software ecosystems.
- It can (often) interact with Microsoft Component Object Model (COM) to support legacy applications and enhance interoperability.
- ...
- It can be used in cross-platform development through .NET Core and .NET 5+, enabling applications to run on different operating systems.
- It can offer backward compatibility, allowing older applications to run on newer versions of the framework.
- It can be applied in scenarios that involve modern architectural patterns, such as the Model–View–Viewmodel (MVVM) Architectural Pattern used in WPF applications.
- It can support integration with advanced data platforms, such as the Neo4j Graph Database System and ElasticSearch Platform, allowing for the development of scalable, data-driven applications.
- It can be extended with tools like Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO) to create custom solutions for Microsoft Office products.
- It can be a part of broader software architectures, including Software Platform Architecture and Web Browser-based User Interface systems.
- ...
- Example(s):
- In 2002,Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0 to create a Windows Forms Application that showcased a simple graphical user interface (GUI) for data entry on Windows XP, leveraging the newly introduced Common Language Runtime (CLR) for memory management and exception handling.
- In 2003, Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 to enhance a web application with improved security features and mobile web controls, facilitating secure, mobile-accessible data entry for a business intelligence solution.
- In 2005, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 to implement generics and partial classes in a large-scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, improving code reuse and maintainability across multiple modules.
- In 2006, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 to develop a rich media application with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) for a more interactive and visually appealing user interface, integrating seamlessly with video and animation components.
- In 2007, ASP.NET MVC introduced with Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, employing the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern to separate business logic from user interface concerns.
- In 2016, .NET Core 1.0 to develop a cross-platform microservices architecture, deploying scalable web services on both Linux and Windows servers, and integrating with containerized environments using Docker.
- In 2020, .NET 5 platform, taking advantage of improved performance, cross-platform compatibility, and modern cloud-native capabilities, particularly for handling complex transaction processing systems.
- In 2022, .NET 6, utilizing the platform's long-term support (LTS) and built-in dependency injection to enhance the system’s scalability and maintainability.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- Java Development Kit (JDK), which is a software development environment for Java applications, not Microsoft .NET.
- Node.js, a JavaScript runtime used for server-side scripting, unlike the Microsoft .NET Framework.
- Azure App Service (Linux), which is designed primarily for .NET Core and does not natively support .NET Framework applications.
- Azure Functions (for .NET Core), which is optimized for running .NET Core applications in a serverless environment rather than the .NET Framework.
- Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) for .NET Core, where .NET Core applications are more commonly containerized and orchestrated rather than those based on the .NET Framework, which may require more customization.
- Azure Cloud Services (Classic) for .NET Core, which focuses on .NET Core applications, offering a different runtime and API set compared to the .NET Framework.
- Azure Virtual Machines (Linux), which typically runs Linux-based workloads and is more suited for .NET Core applications or non-Microsoft ecosystems rather than .NET Framework applications.
- Azure Service Fabric for .NET Core, which supports .NET Core microservices rather than the .NET Framework, offering a more modern runtime and development model.
- Azure Batch for .NET Core, designed for large-scale processing with .NET Core, which provides better performance and cross-platform capabilities compared to the traditional .NET Framework.
- Azure Static Web Apps, which supports front-end frameworks and static site generators, typically in combination with .NET Core or JavaScript-based APIs rather than .NET Framework-based applications.
- Azure Logic Apps, which focus on orchestrating workflows and integrating with various services, and are more often paired with serverless or modern .NET Core APIs rather than full .NET Framework applications.
- Azure App Configuration, which manages application settings across multiple environments but is more commonly associated with modern, microservices-based architectures using .NET Core rather than traditional .NET Framework monoliths.
- See: C#, Visual Studio, Azure, .NET Core, Common Language Infrastructure, Class Library, Microsoft Component Object Model (COM), Software Application Platform, Model–View–Viewmodel (MVVM) Architectural Pattern, Neo4j Graph Database System.
References
2024
- (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework Retrieved:2024-8-24.
- The .NET Framework (pronounced as "dot net") is a proprietary software framework developed by Microsoft that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It was the predominant implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) until being superseded by the cross-platform .NET project. It includes a large class library called Framework Class Library (FCL) and provides language interoperability (each language can use code written in other languages) across several programming languages. Programs written for .NET Framework execute in a software environment (in contrast to a hardware environment) named the Common Language Runtime (CLR). The CLR is an application virtual machine that provides services such as security, memory management, and exception handling. As such, computer code written using .NET Framework is called "managed code". FCL and CLR together constitute the .NET Framework.
FCL provides the user interface, data access, database connectivity, cryptography, web application development, numeric algorithms, and network communications. Programmers produce software by combining their source code with the .NET Framework and other libraries. The framework is intended to be used by most new applications created for the Windows platform. Microsoft also produces an integrated development environment for .NET software called Visual Studio.
.NET Framework began as proprietary software, although the firm worked to standardize the software stack almost immediately, even before its first release. Despite the standardization efforts, developers, mainly those in the free and open-source software communities, expressed their unease with the selected terms and the prospects of any free and open-source implementation, especially regarding software patents. Since then, Microsoft has changed .NET development to more closely follow a contemporary model of a community-developed software project, including issuing an update to its patent promising to address the concerns. In April 2019, Microsoft released .NET Framework 4.8, the last major version of the framework as a proprietary offering, followed by .NET Framework 4.8.1 in August 2022. Only monthly security and reliability bug fixes to that version have been released since then. No further changes to that version are planned. The .NET Framework will continue to be included with future releases of Windows and continue to receive security updates, with no plans to remove it as of November 2023.
- The .NET Framework (pronounced as "dot net") is a proprietary software framework developed by Microsoft that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It was the predominant implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) until being superseded by the cross-platform .NET project. It includes a large class library called Framework Class Library (FCL) and provides language interoperability (each language can use code written in other languages) across several programming languages. Programs written for .NET Framework execute in a software environment (in contrast to a hardware environment) named the Common Language Runtime (CLR). The CLR is an application virtual machine that provides services such as security, memory management, and exception handling. As such, computer code written using .NET Framework is called "managed code". FCL and CLR together constitute the .NET Framework.