The .NET Framework SDK

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	.NET and COM Interoperability Handbook, The By Alan Gordon
	Table of Contents
	Chapter One.  What's in a Name ?

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The .NET Framework SDK

The .NET Framework SDK is a basic set of tools that includes libraries, compilers, debuggers , and other command-line tools that you can use to start building applications that leverage the .NET Framework. The .NET Framework SDK is a free download that you can find on Microsoft's Web site at msdn.microsoft.com/net. You can install it on any variant of Windows XP or Windows 2000 and, of course, on Windows .NET Server. If you like doing things the hard way, the .NET Framework SDK is all you need. However, if you are like most people, you'll want an integrated development environment (IDE) with seamless editing, debugging, Intellisense, and programmability so you can automate common tasks . You will also want wizards and other tools that make the development process simpler and more enjoyable. These are all the things that Visual Studio .NET provides. Visual Studio .NET is not free, but I can tell you that it's an excellent tool and well worth the money. I start using Visual Studio .NET in Chapter 5 of this book. You can find out more about Visual Studio .NET at the following URL: msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio.

Because the .NET Framework (and the SDK) is the main focus of this book, I'll start at the bottom and work my way upward through the layers of the .NET Framework shown in Figure 1-3, starting with the CLR.

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