.NET Framework (pronounced dot net) is a product of Microsoft. It is a programming framework used by Software applications in order to run.[1] It has two major parts: the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework Class Library. The CLR is an execution engine used to handle running programs. The class library provides a library of reusable code that applications can use.[2] These are designed to greatly simplify the development of larger applications.[2] .NET Framework supports Object-oriented programming (OOP).[3] Everything in .NET is contained in an object.[3] It also greatly simplifies Windows programming.[3]
Often, a program will ask for a particular version of .NET Framework to be installed (see below).[4] It is usually recommended to install the latest version your operating system (OS) will support.[4] This is because of backward compatibility; the newer version will also support older versions.
Visual Studio is the major development tool for .NET Framework. Visual Studio 2013 Community Edition is the first full-featured edition for personal development. It also has compilers for computer programming languages such as C++ and others.
Version | CLR | Release date |
Shipped With Visual Studio |
Comprising Components of Windows | Embraces | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Client | Server | |||||
1.0[0] | 1.0 | February 13, 2002 | .NET 2002 | — | — | — |
1.1 | 1.1 | April 24, 2003 | .NET 2003 | — | 2003 | — |
2.0 | 2.0 | November 7, 2005 | 2005 | — | 2003 R2 | — |
3.0 | 2.0 | November 6, 2006 | — | Vista | 2008 | 2.0 |
3.5 | 2.0 | November 19, 2007 | 2008 | 7 | 2008 R2 | 3.0 |
4.0 | 4 | April 12, 2010 | 2010 | — | — | — |
4.5 | 4 | August 15, 2012 | 2012 | 8 | 2012 | 4.0 |
4.5.1 | 4 | October 17, 2013 | 2013 | 8.1 | 2012 R2 | 4.5 |
4.5.2 | 4 | May 5, 2014 | — | — | — | 4.5.1 |
4.6 | 4 | July 20, 2015 | 2015 | 10 | — | 4.5.2 |
4.6.1 | 4 | November 17, 2015 | 2015 Update 1 | — | — | 4.6 |
Version | Instruction Set Architecture | Installable on Windows | |
---|---|---|---|
Client | Server | ||
1.0 | IA-32[1] | 98, Me, NT 4.0 SP6a, 2000, XP | NT 4.0 SP6a, 2000 |
1.1 | NT 4.0 SP6a, 2000, XP,Vista | NT 4.0 SP6a, 2000, 2003, 2008 | |
2.0 ~ 3.5 | IA-32, x86-64, Itanium[2] | XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 | 2003, 2003 R2, 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2 |
4.0 | XP SP3, Vista SP1, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 | 2003 SP2, 2003 R2 SP2, 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2 | |
4.5 ~ 4.6 | IA-32, x86-64, ARM[3] | Vista SP2, 7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10 | 2008 SP2, 2008 R2 SP1, 2012, 2012 R2 |
4.6.1 | 7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10 | 2008 R2 SP1, 2012, 2012 R2 |