Common Language Runtime

In this section, we delve more deeply into the structure of .NET by examining the CLR. We look at the design goals of the CLR and discuss the rationale for using managed code and a runtime. We outline the design of the CLR, including the concepts of MSIL, metadata, and JIT compilation. We compare the CLR with the JVM. We discuss the key concept in .NET of assembly, which is a logical grouping of code. We explore the central role of types in .NET and look at the Common Type System (CTS). We explain the role of managed data and garbage collection. Finally, we use the Intermediate Language Disassembler (ILDASM) tool to gain some insight into the structure of assemblies.

Design Goals of the CLR

The CLR has the following design ...

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