Notes

Outline

What is .NET? Kevin Grossnicklaus kvgros@sseinc.com www.SSEinc.com

Audience? Languages? C++ Java Visual Basic Platforms? I486 (80x86 = ~142 Instructions) Win32 (MFC Layer)

Gratuitous Java Slide Java = 1 Language (Java) Java = Many Platforms Virtual Machine Java code compiles to byte-code Byte-code=Platform Neutral Assembly Virtual Machine implemented on many platforms Byte-code runs through VM and is converted to assembly at run-time (each time)

Balancing Microsoft Slide History MS-DOS 16 Bit Windows Win32 (Win95,98,ME,NT,2000,XP) MFC Languages C++ VB MS = Many Languages MS = 1 Platform

Why Change? Intel 64-Bit Itanium Varying Development Paradigms C++ vs VB vs ASP/Web Language Limitations OO vs VB Interoperability vs COM Visual J++ vs. Sun lawsuit Services COM, Memory, UI, Graphics, Etc… Standards XML, SOAP, Etc…

Where did they begin? Who?  Visual J++ Team Experience with VM’s Anders Hejlsberg What? NGWS -> .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR) NGWS Equivalent of a Virtual Machine JIT Compilation and Compile Once A New Language: C#

CLR Features Understands Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) JIT Enhanced Typing Support Garbage Collection Language Neutral Single Inheritance 100% Object Oriented Structured Exception Handling Simplified Deployment and Maintenance Full and Compact versions Secure Execution Environment Targeted Compilation per Platform Reflection

C# Written in conjunction with the CLR Java/VB Hybrid:  Very simple and powerful development language incorporating years of MS language development lessons learned All .NET base classes were developed in C#

Base Classes = .NET Framework Written in C# on top of CLR Entire development platform presented in a well organized set of namespaces. All functionality of Win32 API exposed Available to all CLR based languages as an organized library of classes and interfaces that provides very powerful tools to do about anything

Base Class Sample System.Data System.Data.SQLClient System.Data.OleDB System.XML System.Web System.Web.UI System.Threading System.Security System.Net System.Diagnostics System.CodeDOM System.ComponentModel

Language Neutrality Current languages that offer compilers that compile to MSIL and support the full .NET Framework:

Best Language for .NET Whatever language you know best and are most productive with. All languages that compile to MSIL are bound by the same constraints Some languages may produce a little more optimized MSIL but basically they are all identical Learn the Framework and the language becomes a syntax

Assemblies Assembly = Entire Application written in .NET A collection of files Side by Side deployment Everything needed by the assembly is included in the assembly No More “DLL Hell” Nothing is Registered, No More COM Self Describing Assemblies XML Manifests describe all files and versions required for app to run All files included in a single directory with a manifest describing what should be there Code level security Public/Private Key Descriptions Uninstall = Delete Directory

Implications Any language that compiles to MSIL has access to ALL CLR features and base classes Any class written in one language can use/inherit from/extend any class written in another language Simplified Deployment Tons of other major development paradigm implications

Major Components of the Base Classes WinForms WebForms Data ADO.NET XML Web Services

WinForms Visual Basic type RAD for “Thick” Apps Replaces Win32 and MFC New Features Forms Inheritance Same Forms Designer for Any Language Easier to include and extend 3rd party controls or “widgets” Better OO Design

WebForms (ASP.NET) Web Development Paradigm Similar to VB Type Development Replaces Classic ASP New Features Output Caching Server Side Controls WebControls = ActiveX Controls for the Web Code Behind Seperation Databind to Anything DataGrid Controls Powerful Security Infrastructure EVENTS in the web

ADO.NET Database Neutral Data Classes Data = XML = Data = XML Designed for the disconnected development paradigm surrounding the web

WebServices Remote procedure calls to web servers hosting “services” RPC over the web through XML Base classes provide complete support Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) Web Service Description Language (WSDL) VS.NET Generates Simple Object Proxies

Visual Studio.NET Unified IDE for all languages compatible with CLR Built-in, “Dynamic” Help Everything compiles into MSIL and is easily packaged into assemblies Fully customizable and extensible development environment EXTREMELY POWERFUL DEBUGGING FOR ALL MANAGED CODE Step seamlessly between components written in any language

VS.NET Cont… Immediate feedback of errors Similar to MS Word Spellcheck Powerful WinForms and WebForms Development Environment All languages extensible through custom developed Attributes Integrated Visio 2002 modeler/designer All database design tools built in Custom XML designer Easily Develop Against Web Services Powerful Server Explorer Many, Many, MANY other features

Summary All Microsoft Products will eventually be ported to the .NET Framework Support for older technologies will slowly fade MS has made a HUGE investment in this change in direction Port the CLR to other platforms? CLR will be standard in any new OS

Want to know more? www.msdn.microsoft.com Search the web…find plenty of info J Books VB.NET Bible J User Groups St. Louis .NET Users Group (www.stlnet.org)

Questions? kvgros@SSEinc.com Ad Hoc Demo J