What is .NET?
-
What is .NET and what is it all about
-
What is .NET and what is it all about
This question is likely too big for readers to be willing to step forward and address. From my perspective .Net covers a large span of territory: Fundamentally, Microsoft has been trying for years to develop a solid footing in enterprise computing, .Net is their strongest effort yet to push into that space. Obviously blunting the value of Java is core to this, but I don't think that was the only goal. I honestly believe that Microsoft wants to, possibly for the first time, advance the level of current technology rather than simply providing the most economically compelling offering to an already defined space. I also think .Net has become a focus for a wide variety of technological initiatives, far exceeding its original mandate (Enterprise appeal, java killer). Included in .Net now are the ability to target PC and non-PC devices, object compatibility at the language level (rather than COM's arguably failed binary offering), and the fundamental understanding that software is history and services are the future (Webservices). Most profound in the entire offering is the integration of webservices into the language, which I personally think has been grossly underestimated as moving force in modern software development.
-
This question is likely too big for readers to be willing to step forward and address. From my perspective .Net covers a large span of territory: Fundamentally, Microsoft has been trying for years to develop a solid footing in enterprise computing, .Net is their strongest effort yet to push into that space. Obviously blunting the value of Java is core to this, but I don't think that was the only goal. I honestly believe that Microsoft wants to, possibly for the first time, advance the level of current technology rather than simply providing the most economically compelling offering to an already defined space. I also think .Net has become a focus for a wide variety of technological initiatives, far exceeding its original mandate (Enterprise appeal, java killer). Included in .Net now are the ability to target PC and non-PC devices, object compatibility at the language level (rather than COM's arguably failed binary offering), and the fundamental understanding that software is history and services are the future (Webservices). Most profound in the entire offering is the integration of webservices into the language, which I personally think has been grossly underestimated as moving force in modern software development.
Agreed. I think the most important aspect of .NET is that it's a platform and not a Windows technology. You compile your code to MSIL (Intermediate Language) and the software is written CLR (Common Language Runtime). Microsoft's main languages will all have a development mode, where the .NET 'virtual machine' is targetted. In some cases this will be the only mode. For the first time since MS's fallout with IBM they're pushing developers onto a different platform other than Windows. What will the Net result be ? Applications being more connected, richer Web Applications targetting .NET on the client and downgrading seamlessly for incompatible platforms. Potentially the end of clumsy HTML browser applications trying to emulate their richer Windows equivalents. More stable applications, no leakage - less GPFs etc.
-
Agreed. I think the most important aspect of .NET is that it's a platform and not a Windows technology. You compile your code to MSIL (Intermediate Language) and the software is written CLR (Common Language Runtime). Microsoft's main languages will all have a development mode, where the .NET 'virtual machine' is targetted. In some cases this will be the only mode. For the first time since MS's fallout with IBM they're pushing developers onto a different platform other than Windows. What will the Net result be ? Applications being more connected, richer Web Applications targetting .NET on the client and downgrading seamlessly for incompatible platforms. Potentially the end of clumsy HTML browser applications trying to emulate their richer Windows equivalents. More stable applications, no leakage - less GPFs etc.
From all I see, .NET is everything Microsoft is doing....which strikes fear and awe into my heart. Hopefully it fairs better than Windows DNA did.... The first major .NET offering is XML oriented services on Windows 2000 servers.....things like SQL server supporting XML data export and XPath to request data which is in a relational database in a hierachical XML format...very nifty if you're using multiple queries in a parent-child relationship, or are managing the relationships yourself. I feel like the common language runtime is really just a maturation of the OS to an OO design. Finally...after all these year, there is a real object model associated with the operating system, not just object oriented code on top of a C API as it is today. As for Java....well I heard Steve Balmer say that Microsoft has confirmation from many companies to provide .NET support for 100 langauges...wow 100 languages!! Surely Java will eventually support the .NET CLR or someone will hack something. As for C#'s place in all of this...well I think it is something different from Java....more C++ oriented, more safety oriented. I usually find my infinate for() loops, but C# offers a foreach() loop....a nice improvement....its not an important improvement, but something which should make it a bit easier to get things right the first time
-
From all I see, .NET is everything Microsoft is doing....which strikes fear and awe into my heart. Hopefully it fairs better than Windows DNA did.... The first major .NET offering is XML oriented services on Windows 2000 servers.....things like SQL server supporting XML data export and XPath to request data which is in a relational database in a hierachical XML format...very nifty if you're using multiple queries in a parent-child relationship, or are managing the relationships yourself. I feel like the common language runtime is really just a maturation of the OS to an OO design. Finally...after all these year, there is a real object model associated with the operating system, not just object oriented code on top of a C API as it is today. As for Java....well I heard Steve Balmer say that Microsoft has confirmation from many companies to provide .NET support for 100 langauges...wow 100 languages!! Surely Java will eventually support the .NET CLR or someone will hack something. As for C#'s place in all of this...well I think it is something different from Java....more C++ oriented, more safety oriented. I usually find my infinate for() loops, but C# offers a foreach() loop....a nice improvement....its not an important improvement, but something which should make it a bit easier to get things right the first time
Thanks for the info guys, but is there a simple sentence or two that just explains what .NET basically is? Thanks for your patience :
-
Thanks for the info guys, but is there a simple sentence or two that just explains what .NET basically is? Thanks for your patience :
Dotnet is a philisophical ideal .
I realise that soundz kinda blunt but consider the answer to " What is COM ? " COM is a specification .
But MS's creation of DotNet, is similar to a society creating a new set of religeous beliefs, Thus it is a Big Deal.
Regardz Colin Davie -
Thanks for the info guys, but is there a simple sentence or two that just explains what .NET basically is? Thanks for your patience :
Hmmm, you're pretty demanding. Not just what is .Net, but what is .Net in one simple sentance... .Net is a way for Microsoft to abstract away both the operating system and the language, so they can contiue own the most signficant position in software industry. I also think it's a big advance in everyday software development. :) Anyone else want to give that a stab
-
Hmmm, you're pretty demanding. Not just what is .Net, but what is .Net in one simple sentance... .Net is a way for Microsoft to abstract away both the operating system and the language, so they can contiue own the most signficant position in software industry. I also think it's a big advance in everyday software development. :) Anyone else want to give that a stab
-
How about: ".NET is the set of technologies that allows software components to interoperate as services on the Internet, running on any platform, using any language.
"...running on any platform, using any language." Makes it sound like it isn't anything. Maybe its a kind of Zen thing =) or for those who remember the Aerobar adds, "It's the bubbles of nothing that make it really something." {grin} Have fun, Paul Westcott
-
How about: ".NET is the set of technologies that allows software components to interoperate as services on the Internet, running on any platform, using any language.
Thanks, all the other explanations were good but this was the easiest to understand. Thanks JoeW