June 2003

Below is an excerpt of a research report published by Directions on Microsoft, an independent research firm focused exclusively on Microsoft strategy & technology. More samples of our content, as well as a list of upcoming articles and reports are also available.

C O N T E N T S:

• Executive Summary
• The .NET Development Platform [Free sample chapter]
• The Framework Core
• Overview: The architectures and benefits of the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework class libraries
• ASP.NET
• Overview: ASP.NET dramatically improves Active Server Pages, giving developers a .NET Framework-based environment for the delivery of Web applications and XML Web services
• The .NET Development Platform Tools
  • Overview: Overview of the .NET development platform languages and how to choose between them; survey of Visual Studio .NET, including improvements in debugging and integration of tools into a single environment
• Weighing the Benefits
• Overview: Major factors to consider before deciding whether or not to invest in the .NET development platform
• Requirements and Availability
• Overview: Lists .NET Framework's hardware and software requirements (e.g., OS versions, service packs, OS add-ins); as well as requirements and download locations for Visual Studio.NET, .NET languages, and ASP.NET
• Resources
• Overview: Pointers to additional information about the .NET Framework in general, .NET languages, and ASP.NET, as well as more detailed .NET comparisons with Java