.Net Technology – In a Nut Shell

.Net Compilation

The Compilation Process

• Programs are not compiled into executable files.
  
  
• They are compiled into Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) files.
  
  
• When you run your program, the IL is compiled again, using the Just In Time (JIT) compiler
  
  
• The result is machine code, executed by the machine's processor.
  
  
• The standard JIT compiler runs on demand.
  
  
• When a method is called, the JIT compiler analyzes the IL and produces highly efficient machine code, which runs very fast.
  
  
• Compilation happens only as needed.
  
  
• As .NET applications run, they tend to become faster and faster, as the already compiled code is reused.
  
  
• The CLS means that all .NET languages produce very similar IL code. As a result, objects created in one language can be
  accessed and derived from another. Thus it is possible to create a base class in VB.NET and derive from it in C#.

CLR – Architecture and Elements

• The common language runtime is the execution engine for .NET Framework applications.
  
  
• It provides a number of services, including the following:
  
  
  • Code management (loading and execution)
    
    
  • Application memory isolation
    
    
  • Verification of type safety
    
    
  • Conversion of IL to native code
    
    
  • Access to metadata (enhanced type information)
    
    
  • Managing memory for managed objects
    
    
  • Enforcement of code access security
    
    
  • Exception handling, including cross-language exceptions
    
    
  • Interoperation between managed code, COM objects, and pre-existing DLLs
    
    
  • Support for developer services (debugging and so on)

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