Benefits of Learning Microsoft .NET Framework

.NET's potential in tech, especially web development, might go unchallenged for a long time due to its inherent multifaceted capacity for developing flexible and interoperable applications and tools –developers can sync these apps and tools to work with and in diverse system environments.

The question then remains how you, as a tech professional or aspirant, can learn and become proficient in the .NET framework. While you can learn .NET on your own, it would be advisable to join a .NET Framework bootcamp program where you'll be able to work with qualified technicians and like-minded professionals. A bootcamp will accelerate your way to getting a .NET certification and build a reliable network as you look to kickstart or change your career in tech.

Now, let's look at everything you need to know about the .NET Framework.

The Common Language Runtime (CLR)

The CLR can be regarded as the execution engine or foundation of the .NET Framework that handles running apps. You can think of the CLR as an agent that manages code, both managed and unmanaged, during execution by providing core services like remoting, memory management, and thread management. It also ensures safety and code accuracy for security and robustness.

.NET Framework Class Library

On the other hand, the Class Library is a storage or library for tested, reusable code that developers can invoke and execute from their apps. It's a comprehensive, object-oriented collection of reusable code for developing apps. The Class Library makes it possible to develop conventional apps like graphical user interface (GUI) apps and more advanced apps like Web Forms and XML web services provided by new advancements like ASP.NET.  

What's New with the .NET Framework?

Microsoft started working on the .NET Framework in the early 1990s under the .NET Foundation. The first version .NET 1.0 was released on February 13, 2002 –its main features were CLR and object-oriented programming (OOP) of web apps. other versions then followed as shown in Table 1.

Table1: .NET Framework Versions.

You can click here for more details on the features of each .NET version.

.NET Framework 4.8

.NET Framework 4.8 is the last version of .NET Framework. However, it's recommendable to use .NET 5 or later versions for new developments. The .NET foundation services the .NET Framework on a monthly basis to fix security and reliability bugs. Microsoft intends to continue including .NET Framework with Windows, meaning there's no need to migrate your .NET Framework apps.

.NET Framework Features

Below are several .NET Framework remarkable features:

• Memory management: Unlike in many programming languages, .NET Framework allocates and releases memory for the apps.
• Multitargeting: By targeting .NET Standard, you can create class libraries to work on several .NET Framework platforms, provided that the version of the standard supports them.  
• An extensive class library: .NET Framework provides readily accessible basic types, saving you the hassle of having to write code for basic low-level programming operations.
• Language interoperability: Language compilers that target .NET Framework emit an intermediate code named Common Intermediate Language (CIL), which is then compiled at run time by the CLR. These routines can be accessed in other languages, enabling you to focus on creating apps in a language of your choice.
• Side-by-side execution: Multiple versions of the CLR can exist on the same computer, helping resolve conflicts during development –multiple versions of the same app can coexist, and an app can run on the version of the .NET Framework with which it was built.
• A common type system: The fact that the compiler defines the basic types in conventional programming languages complicates cross-language interoperability. .Net Framework type system eliminates this hurdle by defining the basic types, which are common to every language targeting the .NET Framework
• Version compatibility: An app written in a particular .NET Framework version can run on another version without the need for modifications.

Please don't hesitate to refer to the Development Guide for more details on developing apps on .NET Framework.

What Languages Can I Write .NET Apps In?

.NET Framework is very versatile. Any .NET Framework-supported programming language must adhere to the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) specification. You can write .NET apps in:

• C# is a simple, type-safe, modern, and object-oriented programming language.
• F#, for concise and robust code.
• C ++/CLI
• Visual Basic with a simple syntax for type-safe, OOP apps.

What Are .NET Framework Application Models?

.NET Framework allows you to quickly build many types of apps on top of the following base libraries:

• Web: You can build web apps and services for Windows, Linux, macOS, and Docker.
• Cloud: You can opt to use existing cloud resources or create and deploy your own.
• Internet of Things (IoT): Allows you to build apps with native support for the Raspberry Pi and other single-board computers.
• Mobile: Build native mobile apps for iOS, Android, and others using a single codebase.
• Game Development: Makes it possible to develop 2D and 3D games for desktops, phones, and game consoles.
• Desktop: You can build original apps for Windows or macOS that will run anywhere with web technologies.
• Machine Learning: You can make your apps more user-friendly by adding vision and speech algorithms, predictive models, and more.
• Microservices: Enables you to create independently deployable microservices that run on Docker containers.

How Does .Net Compare To Other Developer Frameworks?

To compare .NET Framework to other developer frameworks like Angular JS, Node JS, Laravel, and Phalcon, one needs to consider the features and other considerations that set .NET Framework apart. For instance, .NET Framework is currently useable across Windows, Linux, MacOS, and mobile devices with an amazing range of tools and cross-platform capabilities.

Its definitive features, as mentioned earlier, are the following:

• Common language runtime (CLR) is the "engine" of the framework that manages app executions.
• A class library that collects classes, interfaces, and basic value types.
• Common language specification (CLS) defines how objects are implemented for interoperability and compatibility.
• Visual Studio for creating standalone apps, interactive websites, apps, and web services.

.NET Framework is also open source, meaning you can join thousands of developers and companies already contributing to the platform. Its support is also commendable. You can get quick answers from an active community of developers on Stack Overflow.

Why Learn .NET?

A career in tech, especially development, is lucrative. You can boost your chances of landing your dream job by equipping yourself with skills in .NET. Microsoft's .NET Framework is an industry-leading framework popular among developers and users for its reliability and wide-scale adoption in small startups and well-established organizations alike. Thus, learning .NET Framework will give a competitive advantage over other developers and software engineers.

We're Glad to Help

You don't have to spend years in college or university to become a competent .NET developer or software engineer. At Sabio, we endeavor to give nothing but the best when it comes to tech training. With our Full Stack .NET Framework Course, you'll acquire the skills of front and back-end development that most employers require in just 13 weeks. You'll be ready to work as a competent software engineer anywhere in the world.   

With our .NET coding bootcamp program, you'll learn:

• Client-side frameworks
• Database architecture
• Soft skills
• APIs and Tools.

Please don't contact us today to get started or schedule a meeting.

Common .NET Framework FAQs

• What's the .NET Framework?

It's a free, cross-platform, open-source development platform for building apps on Windows.

• What does a .NET Framework developer do?

A .NET Framework developer builds or creates apps that can be run on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.

• What is ASP.NET? Is it different from .NET Framework?

Active Server Pages(ASP).NET is a component of .NET technology. It's an open-source server-side technology that enables programmers to build powerful web services, websites, and web applications.