What .Net actually means for CIOs

The second and third layers of the .Net Platform are collectively called the ".Net Framework." The second layer consists of a set of core classes that give developers access to system resources like threads, strings, security contexts, network protocols, database systems, message queues, application management interfaces (WMI), raw XML protocols, and XML Web Services classes. This layer of core classes allows developers to create robust, secure, distributed data management applications in a fraction of the time that it takes using existing tools to program against Windows and the myriad of system APIs. The time savings come from the .Net Framework's ability to present a unified, consistent view of all of the underlying resources in a stable, manageable environment under the control of the CLR. Not only is development time minimised, debugging is radically simpler and more powerful. And the CLR minimises the opportunities for developers to introduce hard-to-find memory leak or system resource management bugs by providing controlling access to the resources. The final layer of the .Net Platform includes the various presentation management subsystems that compose the .Net Framework. The two key subsystems are the Windows Forms library and the ASP.Net library. The Windows Forms library encompasses a set of classes that include standard Windows controls (text box, list box, grids, etc.). The Windows Forms library also allows developers to create their own high performance forms and controls in any .Net-compliant language that can be used "as is" or as the base from which new controls can inherit and add their own behaviors. This capability allows corporate development teams to reuse key corporate presentation assets regardless of the original source language. The ASP.Net library manages access to Web-based .Net applications including XML Web Services interfaces and Web Forms. The ASP.Net Web Forms library provides functionality similar to its Windows Forms counterpart. Developers can create robust, precompiled, inheritable forms and controls that can be used in several different applications. An add-on to the Web Forms library -- the Mobile Internet Toolkit -- allows developers to create Web applications that will run on any Web-enabled device, including cell phones and Palm PCs. The .Net advantage
So what are the compelling reasons for CIOs to investigate the .Net Platform? I believe it can be summarised in two words: lower cost. Developers can create more robust applications in less time on the .Net Platform. They can reuse their existing language skill sets. The resulting applications are less expensive to manage and maintain. And the .Net Platform allows developers to create applications that adhere to industry interoperability standards like SOAP, XML, and Web Services in a fraction of the time required by other platforms. If you've already made a significant investment in Microsoft technology in your organisation, you should be making plans to move to .Net. If you're a J2EE shop, you should at least understand how to integrate with .Net applications using SOAP and Web Services. You're likely to be asked to do so in the next 12 months.
For a weekly round-up of the enterprise IT news, sign up for the
Enterpise newsletter. Find out what's where in the new Tech Update with our
Guided Tour. Tell us what you think in the
Enterprise Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Freebies202

Duplicate comments are not made intentionally. Its very good to know that now you are keeping check on this problem because sometimes a commenter...

5 hours ago by Freebies202 on Microsoft fixes blog comments, speeds up blogs with open source
kevinmchapman

"the very significant number of users" and "many (most) of us" - you have no evidence for these statements. It is a fact that most users are saying...

13 hours ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Marg Menzies Harrison

Another grammar faux pas is the improper use of "you". When sitting down down in a restaurant, for example, I get cringe when the waitress...

14 hours ago by Marg Menzies Harrison via Facebook on 10 flagrant grammar mistakes that make you look stupid
zdnetukuser

And NOW, folks, for Canonical's next trick... Kubuntu is late. Here's a pencil. Draw your own conclusions. cf.:...

15 hours ago by zdnetukuser on Linux Minterface
Moley

@kevinmchapman. The discussion here reflects the very significant number of users who really do like the traditional menu system and who wish to...

17 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
kevinmchapman

Er, no... It is an efficient means of finding the application/file/setting you need in one place. The icons are a simply a fallback for when you...

18 hours ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
TerryRK

Isn't the provision of a text based search an admission by the developers that the mass of icons approach does not work? I don't need to use a...

20 hours ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
kevinmchapman

"Unity and GNOME 3 both abandon the old text-based cascading menus in favour of a graphical icon-driven system." Point truly missed. Both use a...

20 hours ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
TerryRK

whs001 - Thank you, I'm glad you liked the article. I absolutely agree with you on your first point. I should perhaps have made it clearer that...

20 hours ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Dennis Nilsson

If we allow corporate interest to dictate the way our government circumvents due process against foreign entities then we should accept the same...

21 hours ago by Dennis Nilsson via Facebook on ACTA stumbles in Germany
GHar123

I totally dislike pirating of works, I fear that artists will be deterred from creating works if they think that they are going to get ripped off....

23 hours ago by GHar123 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
JCB33

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

1 day ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
Moley

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

1 day ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
greycynic

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

1 day ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity
GrueMaster

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

1 day ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Frederick Wrigley

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

1 day ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
bdantas

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

1 day ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

1 day ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

1 day ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Moley

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

1 day ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint