Introduction

With the release of .NET, Microsoft has introduced a whole raft of new technologies, and has even invented a new programming language. At the same time, Microsoft has updated many existing technologies and redefined the way in which Microsoft Windows applications are written.

If you read much about .NET, you’d be forgiven for thinking everything you’ve used for years has been consigned to the trash can—the Windows API, COM, COM+, ActiveX controls...all gone. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Windows API is still part of current Windows versions, and COM and COM+ are part of the Windows infrastructure. In addition to companies and developers having a huge investment in COM and COM+ code, these technologies are so tied to the ...

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