Components and their Description
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(1) Common Language Runtime or CLR
It performs memory management, exception handling, debugging, security checking, thread execution, code execution, code safety, verification and compilation. Those codes which are directly managed by the CLR are called the managed code. When the managed code is compiled, the compiler converts the source code into a CPU independent intermediate language (IL) code. A Just in time compiler (JIT) compiles the IL code into native code, which is CPU specific. |
(2) .Net Framework Class Library
It contains a huge library of reusable types. Classes, interfaces, structures and enumerated values, which are collectively called types. |
(3) Common Language Specification
It contains the specifications for the .Net supported languages and implementation of language integration. |
(4) Common Type System
It provides guidelines for declaring, using and managing types at runtime, and cross-language communication. |
Metadata and Assemblies
Metadata is the binary information describing the program, which is either stored in a portable executable file (PE) or in the memory. Assembly is a logical unit consisting of the assembly manifest, type metadata, IL code and set of resources like image files etc. |
(5) Windows Forms
This contains the graphical representation of any window displayed in the application. |
(6) ASP.Net and ASP.Net AJAX
ASP.Net is the web development model and AJAX is an extension of ASP.Net for developing and implementing AJAX functionality. ASP.Net AJAX contains the components that allow the developer to update data on a website without a complete reload of the page. |
(7) ADO.Net
It is the technology used for working with data and databases. It provides accesses to data sources like SQL server, OLE DB, XML etc. The ADO .Net allows connection to data sources for retrieving, manipulating and updating data. |
(8) Windows Workflow Foundation (WF)
It helps in building workflow based applications in Windows. It contains activities, workflow runtime, workflow designer and a rules engine. |
(9)Windows Presentation Foundation
It provides a separation between the user interface and the business logic. It helps in developing visually stunning interfaces using documents, media, two and three dimensional graphics, animations and more. |
(10) Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)
It is the technology used for building and running connected systems. |
(11) Windows CardSpace
It provides safety of accessing resources and sharing personal information on the internet. |
(12) LINQ
It imparts data querying capabilities to .Net languages using a syntax which is similar to the tradition query language SQL. |
Architecture of .NET Framework:--
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Architecture of CLR
Code Manager
Code manager invokes class loader for execution.
.NET supports two kind of coding
1) Managed Code
2) Unmanaged Code
Managed Code
The resource, which is within your application domain is, managed code. The resources that are within domain are faster.
The code, which is developed in .NET framework, is known as managed code. This code is directly executed by CLR with help of managed code execution. Any language that is written in .NET Framework is managed code.
Managed code uses CLR which in turns looks after your applications by managing memory, handling security, allowing cross - language debugging, and so on.
Unmanaged Code
The code, which is developed outside .NET, Framework is known as unmanaged code.
Applications that do not run under the control of the CLR are said to be unmanaged, and certain languages such as C++ can be used to write such applications, which, for example, access low - level functions of the operating system.
Background compatibility with code of VB, ASP and COM are examples of unmanaged code.
Unmanaged code can be unmanaged source code and unmanaged compile code.
Unmanaged code is executed with help of wrapper classes.
Wrapper classes are of two types: CCW (COM callable wrapper) and RCW (Runtime Callable Wrapper).
Wrapper is used to cover difference with the help of CCW and RCW.
COM callable wrapper unmanaged code
Runtime Callable Wrapper unmanaged code
Native Code
The code to be executed must be converted into a language that the target operating system understands, known as native code. This conversion is called compiling code, an act that is performed by a compiler.
Under the .NET Framework, however, this is a two - stage process. With help of MSIL and JIT.
MSIL (Microsoft Intermediate Language)
It is language independent code. When you compile code that uses the .NET Framework library, you don't immediately create operating system - specific native code.
Instead, you compile your code into Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) code. The MSIL code is not specific to any operating system or to any language.
JIT (Just-in-Time)
Just - in - Time (JIT) compiler, which compiles MSIL into native code that is specific to the OS and machine architecture being targeted?
Only at this point can the OS execute the application. The just - in - time part of the name reflects the fact that MSIL code is only compiled as, and when, it is needed.
In the past, it was often necessary to compile your code into several applications, each of which targeted a specific operating system and CPU architecture. Often, this was a form of optimization.
This is now unnecessary, because JIT compilers (as their name suggests) use MSIL code, which is independent of the machine, operating system, and CPU.
Several JIT compilers exist, each targeting a different architecture, and the appropriate one will be used to create the native code required.
The beauty of all this is that it requires a lot less work on your part - in fact, you can forget about system - dependent details and concentrate on the more interesting functionality of your code.
JIT are of three types:
- Pre JIT
- Econo JIT
- Normal JIT
Pre JIT
It converts all the code in executable code and it is slow
Econo JIT
It will convert the called executable code only. But it will convert code every time when a code is called again.
Normal JIT
It will only convert the called code and will store in cache so that it will not require converting code again. Normal JIT is fast.
Assemblies
When you compile an application, the MSIL code created is stored in an assembly.
Assemblies include both executable application files that you can run directly from Windows without the need for any other programs (these have an .exe file extension), and libraries (which have a .dll extension) for use by other applications.
In addition to containing MSIL, assemblies also include Meta information (that is, information about the information contained in the assembly, also known as metadata) and optional resources (additional data used by the MSIL, such as sound files and pictures).
The Meta information enables assemblies to be fully self - descriptive. You need no other information to use an assembly, meaning you avoid situations such as failing to add required data to the system registry and so on, which was often a problem when developing with other platforms.
This means that deploying applications is often as simple as copying the files into a directory on a remote computer. Because no additional information is required on the target systems, you can just run an executable file from this directory and (assuming the .NET CLR is installed) you're good to go.
Of course, you won't necessarily want to include everything required to run an application in one place. You might write some code that performs tasks required by multiple applications.
In situations like that, it is often useful to place the reusable code in a place accessible to all applications. In the .NET Framework, this is the Global Assembly Cache (GAC). Placing code in the GAC is simple - you just place the assembly containing the code in the directory containing this cache.
Garbage Collection (GC)
One of the most important features of managed code is the concept of garbage collection. This is the .NET method of making sure that the memory used by an application is freed up completely when the application is no longer in use.
Prior to .NET this was mostly the responsibility of programmers, and a few simple errors in code could result in large blocks of memory mysteriously disappearing as a result of being allocated to the wrong place in memory.
That usually meant a progressive slowdown of your computer followed by a system crash.
.NET garbage collection works by inspecting the memory of your computer every so often and removing anything from it that is no longer needed. There is no set time frame for this; it might happen thousands of times a second, once every few seconds, or whenever, but you can rest assured that it will happen.
