.NET is a free, cross-platform, open-source developer platform created by Microsoft. It is designed to build a wide variety of applications, including web, mobile, desktop, gaming, and IoT applications12. The platform supports multiple programming languages, with C# being the most popular2.
.NET consists of several key components:
- Runtime: Executes application code and provides services like garbage collection and type safety2.
- Libraries: A large set of pre-built libraries that provide utility functions, such as JSON parsing and networking2.
- Compiler: Compiles source code written in languages like C# into executable code2.
- SDK and Tools: Enable building, testing, and deploying applications with modern workflows2.
.NET offers several advantages:
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: It runs on multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS13.
- Productivity: The platform includes a large set of libraries and tools that help developers save time and improve productivity1.
- Security: It includes various security features, such as code access security and digital signatures, to protect applications from malicious attacks1.
- Performance: The runtime is optimized for high performance and is used in production by many high-scale applications2.
.NET supports various application models to help developers build different types of applications:
- Web: Build web apps and services for Windows, Linux, macOS, and Docker3.
- Mobile: Use a single codebase to build native mobile apps for iOS, Android, and more3.
- Desktop: Create native apps for Windows and macOS or build apps that run anywhere with web technologies3.
- Microservices: Create independently deployable microservices that run on Docker containers3.
- Cloud: Consume existing cloud services or create and deploy your own3.
- Machine Learning: Add vision algorithms, speech processing, predictive models, and more to your apps3.
- Game Development: Develop 2D and 3D games for popular desktops, phones, and consoles3.
- Internet of Things (IoT): Make IoT apps with native support for Raspberry Pi and other single-board computers3.
.NET has a large and active community of developers who contribute to its ecosystem. The platform is maintained by Microsoft and the community on GitHub2. It is regularly updated to ensure users can deploy secure and reliable applications2.
.NET is a powerful and versatile development platform that provides a wide range of tools and libraries for building and running applications on multiple operating systems. Its support for various programming languages, application models, and cross-platform compatibility makes it a popular choice among developers
