Wiley Professional C# 2005 978-0-7645-7534-1 ユーザーズマニュアル

.NET Architecture

Throughout this book, we emphasize that the C# language cannot be viewed in isolation, but must
be considered in parallel with the .NET Framework. The C# compiler specifically targets .NET,
which means that all code written in C# will always run within the .NET Framework. This has
two important consequences for the C# language:

❑

The architecture and methodologies of C# reflect the underlying methodologies of .NET.

❑

In many cases, specific language features of C# actually depend upon features of .NET, or
of the .NET base classes.

Because of this dependence, it is important to gain some understanding of the architecture and
methodology of .NET before you begin C# programming. That is the purpose of this chapter.

This chapter begins by going over what happens when all code (including C#) that targets .NET
is compiled and run. Once you have this broad overview, you take a more detailed look at the
Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL or simply IL), the assembly language that all compiled code
ends up in on .NET. In particular, you see how IL, in partnership with the Common Type System
(CTS) and Common Language Specification (CLS), works to give you interoperability between lan-
guages that target .NET. This chapter also discusses where common languages (including Visual
Basic and C++) fit into .NET.

Next, you move on to examine some of the other features of .NET, including assemblies, name-
spaces, and the .NET base classes. The chapter finishes with a brief look at the kinds of applications
you can create as a C# developer.

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