.NET Framework Features

The .NET framework provides the basic functionality that can be used across languages. For example, the .NET framework provides Windows Forms and Web Forms. You can use Windows Forms to create Windows applications in any .NET language. Similarly, using any language that supports the .NET framework, you can access Web Forms and create Web applications.

The .NET framework provides an integrated debugger. You can use this to debug the code written for the .NET framework, regardless of the programming language used to write the code. For example, you can use the debugger to debug an application that's written in Visual Basic .NET and includes components created in Visual C# .NET. In addition, you can debug a program while it's running. Just attach the debugger to the running program. The debugger also allows you to perform remote debugging.

The .NET framework introduces the concept of assemblies. An assembly is a collection of classes that can be used by multiple applications. You can use assemblies to build applications. The applications that you create are made up of one or more assemblies. Assemblies, which are self-describing components, simplify the deployment of applications. In the .NET framework, you don't need to register assemblies in the system registry. You can store them in a directory on your computer. However, if multiple applications need to access an assembly, you must add the assembly to the global assembly cache (GAC). The GAC stores the assemblies that are shared between applications running on a computer. You can install and remove assemblies from the GAC. You can also view the contents of an assembly by using the Global Assembly Cache tool.

In addition, assemblies enable you to solve version control problems. They provide an infrastructure that allows you to enforce versioning rules.

The .NET framework also introduces a new security mechanism for applications by providing Code Access Security (CAS) and role-based security. CAS allows you to specify permissions for code. CAS settings determine the actions that the code can or cannot perform. By specifying CAS, you ensure that the code is not misused. Role-based security ensures that unauthorized users cannot access applications. You can specify permissions for a user, who is also known as the principal. The .NET framework validates the individual and group permissions of the principal. Role-based security allows you to specify generic, Windows, and custom principals for applications. In addition, you can define new principals for an application by using role-based security. Although you can use role-based security on both the client side and the server side, it's most suitable for applications in which processing occurs on the server side, such as ASP.NET Web applications.

We've looked at the .NET framework and its features. Now, let's look at the features of Visual Studio .NET.