.NET framework

.NET framework
.NET

   <language, tool, library> A software development and execution
   environment designed by {Microsoft} as a direct competitor to
   {Java}.  .NET framework should not be confused with
   {Microsoft}'s past labeling of a line of products as ".NET".

   .NET simplifies interoperability between languages and
   machines on {Microsoft Windows} especially, although not
   specifically, for web based services.  Essentially the .NET
   framework consists of the CLR (common language runtime), CTS
   (common type system), CLS (common language system), and IL
   (intermediate language).

   The CLR consists of a number of resources provided to .NET
   applications such as the security model, type system and .NET
   classes (c.f. Java classes).  The CTS is the range of all
   types that .NET understands although it is not necessarily the
   case that a .NET program will understand all of these types.
   The CLS however is a subset of the CTS which all .NET
   languages must support: any two .NET languages can
   interoperate via. the CLS.

   All .NET languages are at some stage compiled into the IL, a
   {byte-code} like language.  However unlike a standard Java run
   time environment, the IL is converted to {machine code} either
   upon installation of the software or at {run time} by a {just
   in time compiler} (JIT).  The IL is not interpretted.

   .NET's main weakness is that Microsoft have ignored the {Unix}
   and {mainframe} environments, effectively ruling .NET out of
   use in many {enterprise} environments.  However there is