The .NET Framework

As I write, .NET isn’t scheduled to be formally released for at least several months. As with anything that’s anticipated, the rumors abound. To put some of these to rest, I’d like to start off with what .NET is not.

What .NET Is Not

.NET first and foremost isn’t the next Java killer. Although it’s true that C#, formerly known as Cool, was begun immediately after the loss to Sun in the Java lawsuit, and although it’s surprisingly similar to Java, C# by itself is a small part of the .NET story.

.NET is not the next Linux killer. It’s not even an operating system, so this rumor holds no merit whatsoever. And for that matter, it poses no threat to Windows, because it requires Windows.

What .NET Is

.NET is the product of a lot ...

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