What Is .NET
C Hapter · 2002
.NET is Microsoft’s new initiative for building applications regardless of the platforms or languages in use. The .NET label applies to three distinct but related items: a vision for how information technology (IT) will evolve, a software platform to build .NET applications, and an application-hosting business designed to support the vision and market the platform. In this chapter, we inspect each of these items from a fairly nontechnical perspective. By the end of the chapter, the readers will have a good idea of where Microsoft is going with the .NET initiative and will understand the terminology, features, and services offered by the .NET Framework, the software platform for .NET applications.