| Figure 1-1 shows building blocks of Microsoft .NET platform. A brief explanation of each of these building blocks is presented below. Figure 1-1. Building blocks of Microsoft .NET platform.  The .NET Framework Features Microsoft .NET Framework is a computing platform for developing distributed applications for the Internet. Following are the design goals of Microsoft .NET Framework: -
To provide a very high degree of language interoperability -
To provide a runtime environment that completely manages code execution -
To provide a very simple software deployment and versioning model -
To provide high-level code security through code access security and strong type checking -
To provide a consistent object-oriented programming model -
To facilitate application communication by using industry standards such as SOAP and XML. -
To simplify Web application development Visual Studio .NET Visual Studio .NET is a new development environment and a rapid application development (RAD) tool that is fully supported by the MSDN developer service and Windows DNA 2000 servers. It is an integrated development environment (IDE) that is common to all the Microsoft programming languages in the .NET Framework. Visual Studio .NET is based on XML and it uses XML for data storage and formatting. Visual Studio .NET enables the easy deployment of highly distributed, programmable services that run across stand-alone machines, in corporate data centers, and across the Internet. The following types of applications can be created using it: Apart from good debugging features, Visual Studio .NET has features such as source code version control through Visual Source Safe (VSS) and true IntelliSense. NET Enterprise Servers The server infrastructure for .NET Framework, including Windows and the .NET Enterprise Servers, is a suite of infrastructure applications for building, deploying, and operating XML Web services. Key technologies include support for XML, scale-out, and business process orchestration across applications and services. These servers include -
Application Center 2000 to enable scale-out solutions -
BizTalk Server 2000 to create and manage XML-based business process orchestration across applications and services -
Host Integration Server 2000 for accessing data and applications on mainframes -
Mobile Information 2001 Server to enable use of applications by mobile devices like cell phones -
SQL Server 2000 to store and retrieve structured XML data Microsoft .NET Building Block Services The building block services are a set of XML Web services that are used to move control of user data between various applications and users. They enable personalized simplicity and consistency across the various applications, services, and devices while ensuring that user consent is the basis for all transactions. The building block services include Passport (for user identification) and services for message delivery, file storage, user-preference management, calendar management, and other functions. Microsoft will offer a few building block services in areas that are critical to the infrastructure of .NET Framework; a wide range of partners and developers are expected to significantly expand the set of building block services. You'll also see corporate and vertical building block services built on the .NET platform. | 
