Inside the .NET Framework - The Ultimative Guide
What is a .NET Development Platform?
.NET is a popular free, cross-platform, open-source developer platform developed and supported by Microsoft. It helps businesses for building many different types of applications as it provides the programming environment for most software development phases. It is a software development framework and ecosystem designed to allow for easy desktop and web application engineering.
With .NET, companies can use multiple languages, editors, and libraries to build for web, mobile, desktop, games, and lot. .NET best suits businesses that look for a wide range of features like web-based services, desktop software, and cloud infrastructure support.
It is used to create both form and web-based applications, as well as web services. Most notably, the .NET platform supports language interoperability, which allows developers to create applications that work with code written in different programming languages.
Since its initial release in 2002, .NET has evolved from a proprietary software development platform to a fully-featured global ecosystem. Today, businesses use .NET development services to create many different types of applications from web and mobile to microservices and gaming to machine learning and IoT.
What are Various Types of .NET Technology?
.NET comes in four different variants: .NET Framework, .NET Core, Xamarin, and Universal Windows Platform (UWP).
These implementations combined are called the .NET development platform. Each of them contains frameworks and libraries to build various applications.
There are a few versions. NET. They do the same job but they are meant for different operating systems:
.NET Framework
It is the original version of .NET that only runs on Windows computers. NET framework provides a highly secure environment. It employs various security mechanisms for keeping the application protected.
.NET Core
It is the new, cross-platform version of .NET that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux computers. Since it’s more flexible and Microsoft is actively enhancing this version, we’ll be using this one throughout the path.
Xamarin
The third implementation is called Xamarin and is used for mobile applications and Mac products. Originally, Xamarin was designed independently from Microsoft and was a proprietary product. Then Microsoft acquired it in 2016 making it a fully open-source branch of the .NET platform. Xamarin uses the Mono runtime and a version of the .NET Framework adjusted to work with APIs for iOS, Android, and Xamarin.Mac.
Windows Platform (UWP)
UWP provides a common type system, APIs, and application model for all devices running on Windows 10. So, UWP enables the development of universal apps for PC, tablet, Xbox, Surface Hub, HoloLens, or Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
UWP app developers get access to the Microsoft store that charges only 15 percent for non-gaming subscription-based apps, unlike Google Play Store and App Store. Other services include an execution environment (AppContainer) and Extension SDKs to call specialized APIs for different devices.
What is the Difference Between .NET and .NET Framework?
.NET and .NET Framework share many of the same components and allow businesses can share code across the two. Some key differences include:
- .NET is cross-platform and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. .NET Framework only runs on Windows.
- .NET is open-source and accepts assistance from the community. The .NET Framework source code is available but doesn't make direct contributions.
All of the innovation happens in. NET.
.NET Framework is included in Windows and automatically updated machine-wide by Windows Update. .NET is shipped independently.
Which Applications Use .NET Technology?
Here are a few of the most popular applications that use .NET technologies:
- All Microsoft Applications
- GoDaddy
- Stack Overflow
- Newegg
- Match
- Monster
- London Stock Exchange
- Costco
- LEGO
How Much Does It Cost to Build a .NET Application?
As, these can be a broad range and very common reasoning of costs, which may differ as per the requirements. However, there are a few factors that decide on which factors will be a game-changer for .NET applications. Let’s see each of the factors individually.
The complexity of App Development
.NET is a complex technology to imply, but simpler to work with. It demands professionals to work with, and their expert abilities will bring out the best within your .NET application. The five factors that play a major role in the development process include app complexity, the knack of developers, security of data, and the .NET development company’s location.
Data Security Application
Businesses from different domains have different necessities attached to normal app development. Specific industries like healthcare, banking, and finance sector are extra cautious when it comes to developing secure applications. So, when you choose a developer, you must see they have experience in developing secure apps.
Web App Developers Location
The location of the .NET app development company or .NET developers plays a huge role in specifying the cost of a project. Because if the developer is located at a distant place where traveling frequently is not possible. But technology has advanced so much now, that it enables users to utilize a monitor and get regular updates, so location should never be a concern.
Choice of Developer
Large and established firms do have a luxurious office and a lengthy track record of dealing with high-value clients. This would often charge them some extra money for developing multiple requests of their choice. Medium-sized businesses are another type of company. These firms charge less than larger firms but more than tiny independent developers.
What Programming Languages does .NET Use?
Programming Languages which are designed and developed by Microsoft are:
- C# .NET
- VB .NET
- C++ .NET
- J# .NET
- F# .NET
- JSCRIPT .NET
- WINDOWS POWERSHELL
- IRON RUBY
- IRON PYTHON
- C OMEGA
- ASML (Abstract State Machine Language)
Why is .NET Development Important for a Business?
Microsoft's .NET initiative pervades all aspects of computing. From an operating system and Web browser to the servers that run the Internet, down to handheld devices, phones, and radio .NET has a story. Microsoft's ambition is to change the way we develop, access, and interact with Internet applications. Given this, it's easy to see that .NET is important to anyone who accesses information electronically.
When downloading .NET, enterprises can obtain a bunch of programs:
- Translate your C# code into instructions that a computer can understand
- Provide utilities for building software, like tools for printing text to the screen and finding the current time
- Define a set of data types that make it easier for businesses to store information in the programs, like text, numbers, and dates
The real reason for businesses to choose .NET development is because it offers convenience, and it is easier to develop software without much hassle.
Some major inclination towards .NET technology occurs because of:
- It saves time and effort by allowing .NET full stack developers to reuse application blocks, decreasing the amount of code they must write.
- Helps you develop high-quality applications. Because the .NET patterns and frameworks have been tested and debugged, there is lowered risk of mistakes during .NET web development.
Now that we know why businesses choose the .NET development framework, now we must know all the reasons about cost and other application development concerns that arise during the development of .NET applications. Most of the time, businesses think that developing a .NET application will cost them hefty.
.NET is an infrastructure that consists of multiple features like application domain, a common type system, and profiling. Separating one or two important pieces may be a challenge, but the interviewer may be looking for the answers “class library” and “Common Language Runtime.”
Developing applications based on .NET is valuable and beneficial for software interoperability. The majority of the web specialists and experts choose to establish their corresponding web applications on the .NET platform since it is just ideal for developing proper database-centric web services and applications.
How does .NET Development Benefit a Business?
While there’s a reason many companies and developers choose to use .NET, it also comes with a few drawbacks worth keeping in mind. Here are a few benefits of using .NET web development:
Object-Oriented Programming
.NET is based on an Object-Oriented Programming Module. OOP is a developmental model that breaks down software into effortlessly manageable smaller pieces. OOP compartmentalizes data into several fields and characterizes an object’s behavior through the proclamation of classes.
Object-Oriented Programming Module simplifies everything by making the code manageable, responding to recurring problems, and being easier to test. It excludes necessary programming and hence results in less coding for developers. In addition to this, .NET makes it possible to reuse components and code, thereby saving time and cost of development.
Visual Studio IDE
Integrated Development Environment makes application development simpler by providing the needed to write and test software.
Visual Studio is an Integrated Development Environment by Microsoft which is used for building, debugging, and publishing applications across various platforms, including Android and iOS.
The main features of the Visual Studio IDE include:
- It is a single IDE for all .NET applications.
- The IDE comprises debugging and incorporated compilation features.
- The solution can be manipulated for applications based on code written in different languages.
- It also helps customize the environment to correspond to user preference.
Apart from this, Visual Studio Marketplace also brings a wide range of editor expansions that enable continuous integration, team collaboration, cloud-development management, and third-party connections.
Cross-Platform Design
.NET is cross-platform, which means it allows the code to run on various platforms like Windows, Linux, and OS X. .NET unlike the original .NET framework has a fully open-source code that ensures a wide engineering community can participate in its development.
While writing a code in F#, C#, or Visual Basic, the code will run each of the compatible operating systems. This allows companies to reach a broad variety of platforms staying within the .NET ecosystem. Subsequently, with the cross-platform design, it also becomes possible for the .NET community to share their large pool of engineering skillsets.
Flexible Deployment and Easy Maintenance
One of the crucial and most advantageous features of .NET is adjustable deployment. It can be installed separately or as a part of the application under development. The modular design allows including all the dependencies that a business needs. Moreover, the deployment with .NET is as easy as copying a folder.
Another benefit is that it allows businesses to have more than one .NET version running side by side on the same machine. Hence, making it easy to cover different projects and ideally conduct a deployment task.
.NET Supports Wide Range of Applications
.NET framework offers the opportunity to develop an application in an abundance of domains, such as gaming, mobile, IoT, AI.
Microsoft has announced an alliance with SWIFT, which means putting AI and data in the center of Fintech. This will include creating an ecosystem that offers productive and safe operations for banks and corporations.
Businesses have realized the huge potential in Machine Learning, Big Data, and AI. They are investing more and more to integrate such components in their applications. Healthcare, education, marketing, banking, business, and pretty much everything in our daily life could utilize AI and Big Data, making life easier.
.NET allows developers to focus on solving business problems and eradicates a lot of the low-level plumbing code required of some complex systems. In .NET, programming language advantages are discontinued. Developers can choose a language based on their expertise and corresponding productivity and not on the language's capabilities.
What are the Components of the .NET Platform?
The components of .NET are Common language run-time, .NET Class library, Application domain, Common Type System, .NET framework, Profiling, etc. However, the two most crucial components are the Class library and the Common Language Runtime (CLR).
Common Language Runtime CLR
CLR provides building blocks for a wide variety of applications. Common Language Runtime (CLR) is the heart of .NET, an application virtual machine that regulates memory, executes code access security, ascertains code safety, and provides execution of threads and code. CLR is what makes the .NET code an organized one.
As mentioned before, the idea of CLR is to make the developer’s life easier. Besides, it allows engineers to formulate systems with multiple languages, as CLR facilitates them to communicate and incorporate their behaviors.
The runtime checks the needed versions of applied services to ensure that all reliance is intact and the code works as intended.
Class Library
The class library contains a set of categories that are used to access common functionality. The functionality can be shared among different applications.
The .NET Framework includes a set of standard class libraries. A class library is a collection of methods and functions that can be used for the core purpose.
For example, there is a class library with methods to handle all file-level operations. So there is a method that can be used to read the text from a file. Similarly, there is a method to write text to a file.
What Is a .NET Developer and What Do They Do?
A .NET developer is a web programmer that is responsible for creating a variety of software, applications, and interfaces. They are also accountable for improving, troubleshooting, and maintaining computer software applications designed.
.NET developers are software engineers who build software using Microsoft’s .NET technologies. They are credible for the design, implementation, and development of software products according to technical needs.
The difficult part about identifying .NET developers is that .NET is only a framework. That means that it's impossible to develop an application with .NET; instead, you develop for. NET. Because .NET can produce such a broad range of applications, not all .NET developers have the same qualifications, experience, or expertise.
Asking for a .NET developer is a bit like going into a school and asking for a teacher. While you’ll easily find what you asked for, you might get a Spanish teacher when you really wanted a physics teacher.
In that same way, all .NET developers understand the basic functions of .NET and can utilize it for what they need to create. However, each developer has unique specializations that help them create different types of applications.
Although .NET supports programming languages C#, F#, and Visual Basic (VB .NET), in most cases programmers prefer C#. So, as a rule, the programmer uses C# as the main programming language. C# enables .NET specialists to develop various types of software: from ordinary web and desktop applications to mobile applications and computer games.
.NET Developers are technical professionals who develop software applications utilizing the .NET infrastructure by Microsoft. It is an open-source platform that allows them to create mobile, web, and desktop applications that will be better, faster, and more secure.
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