This article mainly introduces the differences between various versions of .NET to help novice friends choose a suitable version of the .NET Framework for development.
What is .NET Framework?
.NET Framework is also called .Net Framework. Developed by Microsoft, it is a software development platform dedicated to agile software development, rapid application development, platform independence and network transparency. .NET is Microsoft's first step toward server and desktop software engineering for the next decade. .NET contains many technologies that facilitate the rapid development of Internet and intranet applications.
The .NET framework is Microsoft's new development platform following Windows DNA. The .NET framework is a programming platform that runs on a system virtual machine, is based on the Common Language Runtime, and supports the development of multiple languages (C#, VB, C++, Python, etc.).
.NET also provides new features and development tools for application programming interfaces (APIs). These innovations allow programmers to develop Windows applications and network applications as well as components and services (web services) simultaneously. .NET provides a new reflective and object-oriented programming programming interface. .NET is designed to be general enough that many different high-level languages can be brought together.
What versions of .NET Framework are there?
.NET Framework 1.0, .NET Framework 1.1, .NET Framework 2.0, .NET Framework 3.0, .NET Framework 3.5, .NET Framework 4.0.
Overview of each version of .NET Framework and selection suggestions
NET Framework 1.0 (CLR 1.0) and 1.1 (CLR 1.1) are obsolete and are strongly discouraged.
NET Framework 2.0 (CLR 2.0) is currently the most widely used version and provides most of the basic functions.
NET Framework 3.0 (CLR 2.0) adds functions such as WPF, WCF, WF and Card Space.
NET Framework 3.5 (CLR 2.0) adds LINQ, ADO.NET Entity Framework and other functions.
NET Framework 4.0 (CLR 4.0) reimplements and improves the functions of the previous version of .NET Framework, and adds new functions such as ParallelLINQ and Task Parallel Library. It is highly recommended to use it.
Detailed introduction to each version of .net framework:
.NET Framework 1.0
Full version number - 1.0.3705
This is the original .NET architecture, released in 2002. It is available as a stand-alone and redistributable package or in a software development kit set. It was also part of the first Microsoft Visual Studio .NET release (also known as Visual Studio .NET 2002).
.NET Framework 1.1
Full version number - 1.1.4322
This was the first major .NET Framework upgrade, released in 2003. It is available as a stand-alone redistributable package or in a software development kit set. It is also part of the second Microsoft Visual Studio .NET version (also known as Visual Studio .NET 2003). It is also the first version of the .NET framework built into the Windows operating system - Windows Server 2003.
Improvements since version 1.0:
Comes with support for mobile asp .net controls. This was implemented as an add-on feature in version 1.0 and is now integrated into the framework. Security changes - Enable Windows Forms code to run with reliable behavior so that it can run safely within the Internet environment, and add code security access capabilities for ASP .NET applications. Comes with support for ODBC and Oracle databases. This was implemented as an add-on feature in version 1.0 and is now integrated into the framework. .NET Compact Framework - This is a subset of the .NET framework for smart devices (such as Pocket PC or SmartPhone). Support for IPv6. Lots of API changes.
.NET Framework 2.0
Full version number - 2.0.50727.42, released on October 27, 2005.
.NET Framework 2.0 components are included in Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005. The RTM version can be downloaded for free through the MSDN Universe version.
Improvements since version 1.1:
Lots of API changes. The new API allows non-.NET applications that need to manage instances of the .NET runtime to do this. This new API provides good control over various functions of the .NET runtime library, including multi-threading, memory allocation, code loading, etc. It was originally designed for Microsoft SQL Server to efficiently use the .NET runtime because Microsoft SQL Server has its own schedule manager and memory manager. NET Framework 2.0 SP1 is released at the same time as .NET Framework 3.5, please refer to the .NET Framework 3.5 section. .NET Framework 2.0 SP2 is released at the same time as .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. Please refer to the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 section.
.NET Framework 3.0
Main article: .NET Framework 3.0
Release date 2006/11/21. Formerly known as WinFX. Still using the common language runtime (CLR) of the .NET framework version 2.0, and adding four frameworks to adapt to the future direction of software development:
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF): Provides a better user experience for developing Windows Forms programs and browser applications. Windows Communication Foundation (WCF): Provides secure network services supported by SOA (Service-Oriented Software Architecture) ( WebService) framework. Windows Workflow Foundation (WF): Provides an application programming interface with basic support for designing and developing workflow-oriented applications. Windows CardSpace: Provides an SSO solution, each user has their own CardSpace. .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 is released at the same time as .NET Framework 3.5, please refer to .NET Framework 3.5. .NET Framework 3.0 SP2 is released at the same time as .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, please refer to .NET Framework 3.5 SP1.
.NET Framework 3.5
This release will include a compiler that supports C# and VB .Net-centric language features, as well as support for Language-Integrated Query (LINQ). This version is released with Visual Studio 2008.
At the same time, .NET Framework 3.5 automatically includes .NET Framework 2.0 SP1 and .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 to provide security fixes for these two versions, as well as a small number of new class libraries (such as System.DateTimeOffest). This version provides New features are:
Extension Method attribute (Attribute), used to provide support for extension methods LINQ support, including LINQ to Object, LINQ to ADO .NET and LINQ to XML expression tree (Expression Tree), used to provide Lambda expressions Provides support for tight integration with Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and Data Awareness. With this new feature, you can write code in any LINQ-enabled language using the same syntax to filter and enumerate many types of SQL data, collections, XML, and datasets, as well as create projections of them. Use asp.netAJAX to create more effective, interactive, and highly personalized web experiences that work on all the most popular browsers. New web protocol support for building WCF services, including AJAX, JSON, REST, POX, RSS, ATOM and several new WS-* standards. Complete tooling support for WF, WCF and WPF in Visual Studio 2008, including the new technology of workflow-enabled services. New classes in the .NET Framework 3.5 Base Class Library (BCL) address many common customer requests. [edit] .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 automatically includes .NET Framework 2.0 SP2 and .NET Framework 3.0 SP2. This version is released with VisualStudio 2008 SP1. This version provides the following new features:
New ASP .NET features include ASP .NET Dynamic Data, which provides a rich scaffolding framework for rapid data-driven development without writing code, and the ASP .NET AJAX add-on, which provides a rich scaffolding framework for managing browser history. Supported (back button support). ADO .NET Entity Framework. Data provider support for SQL Server 2008. The .NET Framework client configuration document is a subset of the full .NET Framework, oriented to client applications. This improves the installation experience on computers that don't have the .NET Framework installed yet. Improved performance of Windows Presentation Foundation, including startup speed performance improvements for bitmap effects. Features added to Windows Presentation Foundation include better support for line-of-business applications, native splash screen support, DirectX pixel shader support, and a new WebBrowser control. ClickOnce application publishers can decide whether to cancel signing and hashing on a case-by-case basis, developers can programmatically install ClickOnce applications that display custom signatures, and ClickOnce error dialog boxes support links to application-specific support sites on the web. . The .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server (System.Data.SqlClient) fully supports all new features of the SQL Server 2008 database engine. For more information about the .NET Framework's support for SQL Server 2008, see What's New in SQL Server (ADO .NET). The ADO .NET Data Platform is a multi-versioning strategy that enables developers to program against a conceptual entity data model, easing their coding and maintenance efforts. This platform provides ADO .NET Entity Framework, Entity Data Model (EDM), Object Services, LINQ to Entities, Entity SQL, EntityClient, ADO .NET Data Services and Entity Data Model tools. Windows Communication Foundation now provides improved interoperability support, enhances the debugging experience in partial trust scenarios, and extends integrated protocol support for wider application to Web 2.0 applications, making the DataContract serializer easier to use . The Microsoft.VisualBasic.PowerPacks namespace introduces the new DataRepeater control, which displays data in a customizable list format. This namespace also contains new vector shapes.
.NET Framework 4.0
.NET Framework 4.0 mainly adds parallel support, and the English version was launched on April 12, 2010.
Enterprise Basics .NET provides an independent platform for software development, comes with a highly secure network system, and relies heavily on software components and component-oriented programs. In this respect it completely replaces the former (COM).
The .NET framework version has been upgraded to 3.5. However, the core parts of .net framework 3.0 and 3.5 are still the same as .net2.0, but some class libraries are added to it. The following chart can clearly describe the differences between the three versions of the framework.
.net framework 2.0 = CLR 2.0 + FCL (framework class library)
.net framework 3.0 = .net framework 2.0 + SP1 + WPF + WCF + WF + CardSpace
.net framework 3.5 = .net framework 3.0 + SP2 + new compiler
The CLR of these three versions of the framework are all 2.0. Therefore, you will find that the runtime of asp.net is still only 1.1 and 2.0. New functions like Linq are actually only implemented with a new compiler and some new class libraries. Version 3.5 does not make any major upgrades to the CLR.