| Author |
Message |
    
Albatross
Citizen
Username: Albatross
Post Number: 282
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 3:48 pm: |     |
It's called Microsoft .NET Framework. It's a set of program extensions. I don't know what it is or what it does for me, and my computer tells me that there's a service pack available for it, and as usual Microsoft isn't helpful in telling me what it does. So I came here.
Anybody know? |
woodstock
Citizen
Username: Woodstock
Post Number: 816
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 4:41 pm: | |
Basically, it's the foundation for a new way to progam. If you remember the VB runtime libraries, think of it as those on major steroids. While you as an end user don't really benefit directly from them, it makes it easier for programmers to create software. There are varying opinions on its usefulness, from "another waste of disk space" to "what kind of horrific mess is Microsoft foisting upon us this time?"
if you search zdnet/cnet, extremetech.com, or one of the other quasi-tech sites, you should be able to get a more in-depth explanation. |
magmasystems
Citizen
Username: Magmasystems
Post Number: 255
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 9:36 am: | |
Ah, something near and dear to my heart.... I am a full-time Microsoft .NET consultant.
As woodstock says, .NET is a whole "framework" which allows developers and computer architects to develop new systems easily.
But there is a side benefit to end-users. When you write programs (from scratch) that are hosted in the .NET environment, your programs are "protected" from causing a lot of system crashes. This is the concept of "managed code". Before, you could write programs that accessed protected or non-existent parts of memory, overrun memory buffers, etc. .NET insultes your programs from doign that.
Overall, I have been pleased at the .NET framework and Microsoft's future plans for it.
I would be happy to answer any .NET-related questions that anyone here might have. |
Albatross
Citizen
Username: Albatross
Post Number: 294
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 2:06 pm: | |
What I'm getting is that it's a programming framework. If I don't do any programming, is it necessary to keep it up-to-date? |
magmasystems
Citizen
Username: Magmasystems
Post Number: 256
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 4:02 pm: | |
Yes, you should keep it up to date. Your machine has to have the .NET framework installed if any programs written for .NET are going to run... just like many programs written in Microsoft C++ need MFC42.DLL on your system, or programs written in Visual Basic need the VB runtime DLLs installed.
Microsoft is always improvimg the .NET runtime DLL and plugging up bugs and security holes. So, you should keep it up-to-date if the Windows Updater tells you that a new version is available. |
Albatross
Citizen
Username: Albatross
Post Number: 302
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 7:48 pm: | |
Ah, I see. Thank you very much.
- Albatross |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 465
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 8:08 pm: | |
LOL. I guess that's one way of saying, "this update will improve your computer's performance". |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 4460
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 8:15 am: | |
Before, you could write programs that accessed protected or non-existent parts of memory, overrun memory buffers, etc. .NET insultes your programs from doign that.
It's the operating system's job to prevent a program from doing those evil things. Why does .NET duplicate that? |
Rick B
Citizen
Username: Ruck1977
Post Number: 342
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 8:18 am: | |
Because Windows doesn't do it! (IMHO) |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 544
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - 4:57 pm: | |
Good timing with this discussion. I want to use pubsub.com, a new search/alert service, and they have a sidebar you cn install to monitor your subscriptions. But the installer say you need to have the ,NET framework, and I am nervous about adding this to my computer, which is on a large network with hundreds of others here at the office.
Should I be nervous? The it people will shoot me if I install something that messes up anyhting/ |
magmasystems
Citizen
Username: Magmasystems
Post Number: 258
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - 7:29 pm: | |
The NET Framework comes as a standard part of Windows XP. I assume that you are using an older system, such as Windows 2000 or Windows NT. In that case, any product that you install that relies on the .NET Framework should come with the .NET Redistributables. I don't think that you should be worry about installing the .NET binaries in the the same way that you probably took it for granted when you had to install the Visual Basic 6 redistributables.
|
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 545
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 9:27 am: | |
Um, okay, I used to think I understood computer stuff. (Redistributables?) Here's what I'm working with:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 1 Build 2600
System Manufacturer Dell Computer Corporation
System Model OptiPlex GX240
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 1 Stepping 2 GenuineIntel ~1495 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Dell Computer Corporation A02, 12/6/2001
SMBIOS Version 2.3
What do I do to install the .NET framework?
|
magmasystems
Citizen
Username: Magmasystems
Post Number: 259
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 12:53 pm: | |
Windows XP Pro should already have the .NET Framework installed. However, it may only have the 1.0 version installed. Microsoft is up to 1.1 now. |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 548
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 1:31 pm: | |
If it's already installed, how do I find it/run it so I can download the search service's sidebar that tells me I need .NET?
Thanks again. |
Kalani Thielen
Citizen
Username: Kalani
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 1:51 pm: | |
ReallyTrying,
Have you ever had the Windows Update break some other software you run? I tend to just install whatever they suggest (they're usually bugfixes anyway).
Tom,
The OS does still handle restrictions on resources like memory, files, and so on. The only thing that .NET adds to that is to make it easier to work with (just like .NET makes it easier to draw a line on the screen without having to keep five handles and remember the draw-cursor state of your "device context").
But I think that what developers really need, rather than YARMEBHCH (Yet Another Register Machine Emulator and Big Honking Class Hierarchy), is more integrated support for alternate models of computation (e.g.: prolog style logic, lambda calculus, etc).
How many software people are there in Maplewood anyway? |
monster
Citizen
Username: Monster
Post Number: 377
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 1:55 pm: | |
Just go buy a Mac already.... |
Earlster
Citizen
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 712
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 2:00 pm: | |
Kalani,
count me. |
magmasystems
Citizen
Username: Magmasystems
Post Number: 261
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 2:29 pm: | |
One way to see if it is installed....
From the Start menu, go into Settings / Control Panel / Administrative Tools. You should see a listing or two for the .NET 1.1 Administrator. |
Kalani Thielen
Citizen
Username: Kalani
Post Number: 4
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 10:45 pm: | |
Hi Earlster, nice to meet you. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 4495
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 10:17 am: | |
Kalani, we have lots of software people here, but I doubt you could get an accurate headcount. I'm a system administrator and used to be a software developer.
Hey folks, I got a job! I was unemployed almost six months. I worked my first day on Friday. |
monster
Citizen
Username: Monster
Post Number: 390
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 4:33 pm: | |
Congrats Tom, maybe I should look into getting one of those someday too. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 4505
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 5:03 pm: | |
They are very tough fields lately. A few years ago, I used to get about eight calls per week from headhunters, enticing me to take a new job. Most of them offered me huge pay raises. It was an employee's market. Now it's hard, as evidenced by much lower pay rates and the fact that I was unemployed for so long. Many of my colleagues have gone longer. |
magmasystems
Citizen
Username: Magmasystems
Post Number: 264
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 7:07 am: | |
Hi Tom,
First, congrats on your new job. I hope everything turns out well.
Second, would you like to share any stories from your long search for new positions? I have my own, and if you are agreeable, perhaps we can start a thread either here or in the Virtual Cafe area. Even though I am a consultant, our stories may have some parallels.
-marc |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 4509
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 2:25 pm: | |
I'm agreeable to that. |
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