.net framework introduction

1.1 What is .NET?
.NET is a general-purpose software development platform, similar to Java. At its core is a virtual machine that turns intermediate language (IL) into machine code. High-level language compilers for C#, VB.NET and C++ are provided to turn source code into IL. C# is a new programming language, very similar to Java. An extensive class library is included, featuring all the functionality one might expect from a contempory development platform - windows GUI development (Windows Forms), database access (ADO.NET), web development (ASP.NET), web services, XML etc.

1.2 When was .NET announced?
Bill Gates delivered a keynote at Forum 2000, held June 22, 2000, outlining the .NET 'vision'. The July 2000 PDC had a number of sessions on .NET technology, and delegates were given CDs containing a pre-release version of the .NET framework/SDK and Visual Studio.NET.

1.3 What versions of .NET are there?
The final versions of the 1.0 SDK and runtime were made publicly available around 6pm PST on 15-Jan-2002. At the same time, the final version of Visual Studio.NET was made available to MSDN subscribers.
.NET 1.1 was released in April 2003, and was mostly bug fixes for 1.0.
.NET 2.0 was released to MSDN subscribers in late October 2005, and was officially launched in early November.

1.4 What operating systems does the .NET Framework run on?
The runtime supports Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, NT4 SP6a and Windows ME/98. Windows 95 is not supported. Some parts of the framework do not work on all platforms - for example, ASP.NET is only supported on XP and Windows 2000/2003. Windows 98/ME cannot be used for development.
IIS is not supported on Windows XP Home Edition, and so cannot be used to host ASP.NET. However, the ASP.NET Web Matrix web server does run on XP Home.
The .NET Compact Framework is a version of the .NET Framework for mobile devices, running Windows CE or Windows Mobile.
The Mono project has a version of the .NET Framework that runs on Linux.
1.5 What tools can I use to develop .NET applications?
There are a number of tools, described here in ascending order of cost:
• The .NET Framework SDK is free and includes command-line compilers for C++, C#, and VB.NET and various other utilities to aid development.
• SharpDevelop is a free IDE for C# and VB.NET.
• Microsoft Visual Studio Express editions are cut-down versions of Visual Studio, for hobbyist or novice developers.There are different versions for C#, VB, web development etc. Originally the plan was to charge $49, but MS has decided to offer them as free downloads instead, at least until November 2006.
• Microsoft Visual Studio Standard 2005 is around $300, or $200 for the upgrade.
• Microsoft VIsual Studio Professional 2005 is around $800, or $550 for the upgrade.
• At the top end of the price range are the Microsoft Visual Studio Team Edition for Software Developers 2005 with MSDN Premium and Team Suite editions.
You can see the differences between the various Visual Studio versions here.

1.6 Why did they call it .NET?
I don't know what they were thinking. They certainly weren't thinking of people using search tools. It's meaningless marketing nonsense.