UNIT – 1

Architecture Of .NET Framework

The .NET Framework is complex, consisting of many components, which are

briefly discussed in this section. The knowledge of these components is essential
to choose the appropriate components for a project.
1.4.1 ASP.NET
Active Server Pages (ASP) is a web framework for building websites and
applications. It sup. ports Java Scripts, CSS, and HTML and can be used to build a
web page, web form, and model view controller (MVC). A web page is a simple
page. ASP facilitates quick development and easy database connectivity of a web
page. A web form refers to the older model of reprocessing controls and
integrating data into websites Model An MVC has three components: model,
view, and controller. The model com ponent is responsible for the data of the
application. View is responsible for the interface and the controller is the
intermediate between the model and the view. MVC builds on a pattern that
cleanly separates the various parts of a web application. All these types will be
discussed in the latter chapters. Figure 1.3 Fig. 1.3 MVC concept depicts the MVC
concept.

Controller

1. ASPNET web pages ASP.NET web pages offer a quick and lightweight method to
com bine server code with HTML to create dynamic web content. They also
facilitate connec tion to databases.

2. ASPNET web forms ASP.NET web forms help in building dynamic websites.
They use a drag-and-drop, event-driven programming model.
3. ASPNET MVC MVC is an architecture that separates the implementation from
the user interface. ASP.NET MVC provides a pattern-based way to build dynamic
websites. It helps in faster development of web pages. The web pages developed
use standard com- ponents and therefore are less prone to errors. The
component-based approach also helps to utilize the advantages of component-
oriented model (COM) as well. The main goals of COM are faster development
of software, reusability, and significant increase in produc tivity. If the interface
is separated from the data as is done in MVC, it not only helps in the
implementation of object-oriented concepts but also helps in reducing bugs and
hence increases productivity.

1.4.2 Windows Presentation Foundation

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is a presentation system. It helps in

building Windows client applications with visually astounding user experiences. It
intends to utilize the modern graphic hardware capabilities, currently not being
used by the presentation systems. Its features include two-dimensional and
three-dimensional graphics, media, and text. The WPF is a part of the .NET
Framework and therefore developers can also include other elements of the
framework in their application. The need of using Flash in web pages is thus
minimized. It even allows one to create browser-based applications.

1.4.3 Windows Communication Foundation

Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) is a programming model for building

service- oriented applications. The website, when it receives a request from a
client, provides requisite services. Proper communication between the two is
essential for the smooth flow of work. The WCF helps in building secure
transacted solutions. Please refer to Chapter 25 for an overview of WPF and WCF.

1.4.4 Cross-language Interoperability

As explained earlier, NET Framework supports many languages. Hence, it is
necessary to have a mechanism for interaction between them. The cross-
language interoperability elucidates.
how managed objects created in diverse programming languages can cooperate
with one another.

1.4.5 Runtime Hosts

The runtime hosts, that is, applications that run the web page, supported by the
NET Framework include ASP.NET and Internet Explorer.

1.4.6 Security

The CLR and the NET Framework offer several services that allow developers to
easily write secure code. They also help the system administrators to tailor the
permissions settled to the code. The runtime and the .NET Framework provide
useful classes and services that facilitate the use of cryptography as well.

1.4.7 ADO.NET

There are many ways to connect to a database, of which ADO.NET is one. As ADO.
NET helps us to connect to the databases, it is essential in developing
management systems. It is easy to use and is one of the most popular ways of
connecting to the data.

Figure 1.4 depicts the .NET Framework stack.

Thus, from what we have studied so far, one can conclude that the following are
the steps involved in creating a .NET application:

1. Application code is written using a .NET compatible language.

2. The code is compiled into MSIL, which is stored in an
assembly. 3.The native code is executed in the context of the
managed CLR.
4. This MSIL code is compiled into the native code using a JIT compiler.

These steps are illustrated in Fig. 1.5.

Common language specification

ADO.NET and XML

ASPNET

web forms web services

Windows form

Visual NET

Base class library

Common language run one

Operating system

Fig. 1.4 NET Framework stack

Code compiled into MSIL

MSIL

converted into native code

Native code executed

What

Application Tonal

in NET compatible

language

Fig. 1.5 Steps in creating a NET application

When you open the VS 2012 for the first time, the Choose Default Environment
Settings dis box that prompts you to configure the IDE appears .

3. Click the Start Visual Studio button

2. Select the General Development Settings option from the Choose your default
settings list box