Preface

A condensed introduction to the Microsoft .NET Framework, this book aims to help programmers make the transition from traditional Windows programming to the world of .NET programming. The Microsoft .NET Framework includes the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and a set of base classes that radically simplify the development of large-scale applications and services. This book examines the CLR in detail, so that you can put its new features to good use. The book also illustrates how language integration really works and guides you through component and enterprise development using the .NET Framework. In addition, it introduces you to four key .NET technologies: data (ADO.NET) and XML, web services, Web Forms (ASP.NET), and Windows Forms.

We used the latest release of Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 and the .NET Framework SDK 1.1 to prepare this manuscript and to develop all the examples and figures in this book. In .NET Framework SDK 1.1, Microsoft has fixed a number of bugs, made performance and security improvements, and added a few important changes, including:

• Support for additional ADO.NET data sources (Oracle and ODBC)

• Improved support for using C++ to build .NET Windows and Web applications

• Integration of J# into VS.NET

• Inclusion of a mobile controls package for developing ASP.NET sites for small devices, such as cell phones

• Integration of mobile application development into VS.NET

Although we have done our best to ensure that the technical content of this book is up-to-date, it is possible that some items have changed slightly from the time of writing. To stay up-to-date, regularly check http://msdn.microsoft.com/net, http://www.gotdotnet.com, and this book's O'Reilly page, http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/dotnetfrmess3/.