What Is .NET?

Overview
„ Types of software systems
„ The .NET architecture
„ Managed code and CLR
„ Visual Studio .NET
„ Types of applications

References
„ Jeffrey Richter, “Applied Microsoft .NET Framework
Programming”, Microsoft Press, 2002
„ Andrew Troelsen, “C# and the .NET Platform”, Apress, 2001
„ http://www.devhood.com/training_modules/

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Types of Software Systems
Desktop solutions
„ Desktop software is the most commonly deployed “service
solution” in existence.
„ It is a chameleon that takes many shapes, colors, and sizes
depending on the service it is aimed to deliver.
Client/server solutions
„ Desktop applications are broken into logical pieces and
distributed throughout a network of computers.
Internet solutions
„ The Internet is the computer.
„ A Web browser is the user interface or client, the Internet is
the server.

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Challenges of Software
What is the right operating system?
„ Why a target platform?
„ Why not the best platform for the solution (such as the one
that offers the most complementary or required features)?
The operating system limits choice of development
languages and tools.
„ .NET is not available on Linux/Solaris platforms.
Are you experienced? (Language and tool experience)
Once you have made your choice there is no turning
back!

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Why .NET?

The .NET framework is Internet-oriented.

The .NET architecture is based on the Internet

and for the Internet and can therefore be
considered as first-class Internet citizen.

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Internet Distributed Software
Second-Tier
(database or Second-Tier Second-Tier
other server)

Web Server Web Server

Client Client
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Supported Standards
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
eXtensible Markup Language (XML)
Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)
HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
TCP/IP
Universal Description Discovery Integration
(UDDI)
Web Service Description Language (WSDL)
Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL)
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Defining the .NET Framework
The .NET Framework is
„ A software development environment
„ A runtime engine for Managed Code
„ A platform designed for Internet-
Distributed software

The .NET Framework is an exciting new

computing platform.

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Abstract View of .NET
Web Services Building blocks

.NET Applications
Enterprise Servers
Languages: SQL Server …
C#, Visual Basic, Perl

Runtime
Service: .NET & COM+
Common Common
Type Language
System Runtime .NET Framework

Windows/FreeBSD

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.NET Components
In the .NET framework, the unit of
deployment is an assembly.

An assembly contains:
„ Code that is executed on a virtual machine for the
common language runtime (CLR),
„ Metadata,
„ Additional resources.

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A First Look at Managed Code
HelloGUI.cs:
program entry point
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing;

class MyForm:Form{
public static void Main(){
Application.Run(new MyForm());
}
new paint method
protected override
void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e){
e.Graphics.DrawString( "Hello World!",
new Font("Arial", 35),
Brushes.Blue, 10, 100);
}
}
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Compile & Run
c: \> csc /target:winexe HelloGui.cs

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Managed Code and the CLR
The Common Language Runtime (CLR) is a
runtime engine
„ Manages .NET Code (such as C# applications)
„ Provides features such as memory management,
thread management, object type safety, security,
etc.
„ Is a part of the .NET Framework
Managed code
„ Code that targets the CLR
„ Any .NET Language, including C#, Visual Basic,
C++, Java, Cobol, etc.
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 The CLR and Managed Code

Managed Executable
Reusable
Legacy Managed Components
Software
(unmanaged code)
Common Language Runtime
(JIT compilation, memory management, etc.)

Windows
(or other operating oystem)

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IL and Metadata
All Managed executables consist of
„ Intermediate Language (IL) instructions
„ Metadata
IL
„ CPU independent machine language
„ Just-in-time compiled at runtime
Metadata
„ Structured information
„ describes programming constructs including
Š Classes definitions, field and method definitions,
parameter lists, return types, etc.

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From Source Code to Managed .exe
HelloGui.cs
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing;

class MyForm:Form{
public static void Main(){
Application.Run( new MyForm() );
} C# Compiler
protected override
void OnPaint(
PaintEventArgs e){
e.Graphics.DrawString( "Hello World!",
new Font("Arial",35),
Brushes.Blue, 10, 100);
HelloGui.exe

Metadata

A Managed
Application IL

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Just-in-Time Compiling
All managed code runs in native machine language

However, all managed code is made up of IL and

metadata

The CLR JIT-compiles the IL and metadata

„ At execution time
„ Executed directly by CPU

Allows for the best of both worlds

„ Code management features
„ Performance of full-speed execution

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 Executing a Managed Application
At execution time the IL and
Metadata are JIT compiled
HelloGui.exe

Metadata
Running Process’ Memory

IL

JIT Compiler
Native
Machine Language
10010100 10110000 10000000 10111010
11011011 11010111 11000010 01110110

The CPU executes the JIT-

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Automatic Memory Management
The CLR manages memory for managed code
„ All allocations of objects and buffers made from a Managed
Heap
„ Unused objects and buffers are cleaned up automatically
through Garbage Collection

Some of the worst bugs in software development are

not possible with managed code
„ Leaked memory or objects
„ References to freed or non-existent objects
„ Reading of un-initialized variables

Pointer-less environment
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Cross Language Support
The .NET Framework supports many languages.
Any compiler can be modified to emit managed
executables.
„ IL and metadata
Languages that target the .NET Framework
„ C#, Visual Basic, C++, Java, PERL, COBOL, SmallTalk
„ Dozens more existing and on the way
Regardless of source language, all managed code can
„ Use the same tools
„ Use the same reusable components
„ Take advantage of features of the CLR
Developers use their language of choice.
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Visual Studio.NET
A Integrated Development Environment
„ To develop managed and unmanaged applications
„ Supports C#, C++, Visual Basic, JavaScript
„ Many useful tools and wizards

Not part of the .NET Framework

„ Not necessary to build or run managed code
„ The .NET Framework SDK includes command line
compilers

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Creating a New Project

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First Look

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Running the Project

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The Framework Class Library
Included with the .NET Framework is a set of .NET
Framework Class Library (FCL) assemblies that
contains several thousand type definitions.
„ Classes, interfaces, enumerations and structures
Types for
„ Common tasks such as collections, file IO, memory and
thread management
„ GUI and window manipulation
„ Web form and web service applications
Totally object oriented toolbox for developers
„ Ships as part of the .NET Framework

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Kinds of Applications
The CLR and the FCL allow developers to
build the following kinds of applications:

„ XML Web services

„ Web Forms
„ Windows Forms
„ Windows console applications
„ Windows services
„ Component library

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ASP.NET XML Web Services
XML Web services are methods that can
be accessed over the Internet.

XML Web services consist of two parts:

„ The XML Web service entry point and
„ The code that implements the XML Web
service functionality.

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ASP.NET Web Forms
Web Forms are HTML-based applications
(Web sites).

Typically, Web Forms applications will make

database queries and Web service calls,
combine and filter the returned information,
and then present that information in a
browser using a rich HTML-user interface.

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Windows Forms
Windows Forms are used to develop rich Windows
GUI applications.

Windows Forms applications are in fact classic Win32

desktop applications, the kinds that were traditionally
developed in Visual Basic, Visual C++, Delphi, etc.

Examples include drawing or graphics applications,

data-entry systems, point-of-sale systems, and
games.

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Windows Console Applications
Applications with very simple user
interface demands.

Compilers, utilities, and tools are typical

applications that are implemented as
console applications (see csc).

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Windows Services
Windows Services are service applications
controllable via the Windows Service Control
Manager (SCM).

Settings…
Administrative Tools…
Services…
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Component Library

The .NET Framework allows you to build

stand-alone components (types) that can be
easily incorporated into any other .NET
application.

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Managed Applications - Summary
Common application
„ GUI Windows applications (Windows Forms)
„ Console applications or command line applications
Web applications (ASP.NET)
„ Web Forms applications
„ Web services
Scripted code
„ Applications like word processors or database servers can
host the CLR
„ Use any managed language (C#, VB, etc.) as a script or
macro language
Wherever you use managed code.

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Open Source C# IDE
#develop (short for SharpDevelop) is a free IDE for C# and
VB.NET projects on Microsoft's .NET platform.
It is open-source (GPL), and you can download both sourcecode
and executables from http://www.icsharpcode.net.

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