C# 4.0 Unleashed

Chapter 1. Introducing the .NET Platform

In This Chapter

• A Historical Perspective 5

• A 10,000-Feet View of the .NET Platform 9

• The Common Language Infrastructure 12

• The Multilanguage Aspect of .NET 14

• Introducing .NET Assemblies 15

• The Common Type System Explained 17

• Executing Managed Code 24

• Diving into the Common Language Runtime 32

• The Base Class Library 51

The computer programming landscape is changing constantly to accommodate the needs of end users and to bridge the gap between modern powerful hardware and meaningful software applications. It’s a great time for us developers to live, or should I say, us geeks. Personally, I remember writing my first programs in BASIC, trying to impress my teachers with computer solutions ...