The .NET Framework is an integral Windows component that supports building and running the next generation of applications and XML Web services. The .NET Framework provides a managed execution environment, simplified development and deployment, and integration with a wide variety of programming languages and it is designed to fulfill the following objectives:

·         To provide a consistent object-oriented programming environment whether object code is stored and executed locally, executed locally but Internet-distributed, or executed remotely.

·         To provide a code-execution environment that minimizes software deployment and versioning conflicts.

·         To provide a code-execution environment that promotes safe execution of code, including code created by an unknown or semi-trusted third party.

·         To provide a code-execution environment that eliminates the performance problems of scripted or interpreted environments.

·         To make the developer experience consistent across widely varying types of applications, such as Windows-based applications and Web-based applications.

·         To build all communication on industry standards to ensure that code based on the .NET Framework can integrate with any other code.

Microsoft is providing best-of-breed development tools with Visual Studio .NET and the .NET Framework. The .NET development model embraces many programming languages, so that developers can use whichever language is most appropriate for them and for each project.

 .NET is the most widely used development and deployment environment, and it is considered the standard for many organizations. Building applications on top of the Visual Studio IDE provides some major benefits such as:

·         Faster development. The Visual Studio Shell accelerates development by providing a base, integrated development environment (IDE) that can host custom tools and programming languages.

·         Familiar environment. Developers can build on the Visual Studio platform and provide end users a familiar user interface, speeding the learning curve for both.

·         Easy integration. .NET provides an IDE that integrates easily and dependably with the most prevalent desktop applications.

·         Cost-effective support and management services.