The .NET runtime plays a key role in the .NET ecosystem giving developers a strong base to build and run apps. C# programmers need to know about the .NET runtime to make their apps run better and work well in different settings.
What is the .NET Runtime?
The .NET runtime, which people also call the Common Language Runtime (CLR), is a big part of the .NET framework. It provides a controlled space for running apps that takes care of memory, handles errors, and keeps things secure. This makes it easier for developers to create apps without worrying about these complex tasks.
Key Features of the .NET Runtime
Memory Management: The .NET runtime has a garbage collector that handles memory allocation and deallocation on its own. This cuts down on memory leaks and boosts how well the application runs.
Just-In-Time (JIT) Compilation: The runtime uses JIT compilation to change Intermediate Language (IL) code into native machine code as the program runs. This fine-tunes performance based on what's happening in the execution environment at the time.
Security: The .NET runtime offers a bunch of security features. These include code access security (CAS) and role-based security. They work to keep applications safe from people who shouldn't have access and from harmful code.
Exception Handling: The runtime makes dealing with errors easier. It does this by giving a single way to manage exceptions. This means applications can handle runtime errors .
The Evolution of .NET Runtime
.NET Framework
The .NET Framework started it all. Microsoft built this original .NET runtime to give developers a solid foundation for Windows apps. It comes with a big set of pre-written code and plays nice with many coding languages, C# being a fan favorite.
.NET Core, .NET 5, and .NET 6
.NET Core: This cross-platform successor to the .NET Framework lets developers build and run apps on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
.NET 5: This version brought together .NET Core and .NET Framework to create one platform for all .NET workloads.
.NET 6: This version builds on .NET Core and .NET 5 to offer better performance, stability, and productivity in a single platform.
Architecture of .NET Runtime
The .NET runtime has these main parts:
CLR (Common Language Runtime): Offers the runtime environment for .NET apps handling memory, security, and exception management.
Class Libraries: A collection of ready-made classes and functions that coders can apply to create apps more .
JIT Compiler: Turns IL code into native machine code when the program runs.
Garbage Collector: Takes care of memory allocation and deallocation on its own.
Managed and Unmanaged Code
Managed Code: Code that operates under CLR control gaining advantages like garbage collection and type safety.
Unmanaged Code: Code that runs straight on the Windows OS and doesn't get CLR services. C++ code serves as an example.
CLI Specifications
The Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) sets standards for running and managing .NET applications. It describes the runtime environment and key components needed. The CLI includes the Common Type System (CTS) and the Common Language Specification (CLS).
Versions of .NET Runtime
The .NET runtime has changed over time. Each version brings new features and makes things better:
.NET Framework: The first version, which saw many updates as time went on.
.NET Core: Came after the .NET Framework, with versions 1.x, 2.x, and 3.x.
.NET 5: Brings together .NET Core and .NET Framework.
.NET 6: The newest release, which boosts performance and adds new features.
.NET Class Libraries (FCL & Core FX)
FCL (Framework Class Library): The big library that comes with the .NET Framework. It gives developers a lot of tools to build applications.
Core FX: The class library that works on different platforms. It's used in .NET Core and .NET 5/6. It offers a trimmed-down set of libraries made for building modern apps.
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