Introduction to .NET

A new platform for building Internet applications and Web services
Contains runtime, messaging, services, data access, interoperability, HTTP services, ASP+, and more
Supports multi-language development
Has a rich set of internet-supporting technologies
A common class library with a standard set of classes which all inherits from a base class called Object
The .Net Frameworks Object Model is called VOS - Virtual Object System

NGWS - Next Generation Windows Services

Dot Net was originally called NGWS.

Before the official announcement of Dot Net, the term NGWS was used for Microsoft's plans for producing an "Internet-based platform of Next Generation Windows Services".

This new family of Microsoft .NET products and technologies replaces the previous working title of Next Generation Windows Services (NGWS) and includes software for developers to build next-generation Internet experiences as well as power a new breed of smart Internet devices. Microsoft also announced plans for new products built on the .NET platform, including new generations of the Microsoft Windows� operating system, Windows DNA servers, Microsoft Office, the MSN� network of Internet services and the Visual Studio� development system.

.NET Internet Standards

.NET depends on four Internet standards:

HTTP, the communication protocol between Internet Applications
XML, the format for exchanging data between Internet Applications
SOAP, the standard format for requesting Web Services
UDDI, the standard to search and discover Web Services

What Does .NET Give You?

Data access
Functionality of the Win 32 API that is accessible through a simple object model
The VB language has been upgraded
C#
Memory management
ASP.NET
Programming languages have been moved closer together
Assembly