Silverlight.

We have covered .NET framework, a platform to allow Microsoft development and execution, and Visual C# a programming paradigm to allow rapid application development.

Lets move on to Silverlight.

I have never come across Silverlight, so I do not know what it is, what it is used for etc.

Lets get some info from the pros!

Silverlight is a powerful development tool for creating engaging, interactive user experiences for Web and mobile applications. Silverlight is a free plug-in, powered by the .NET framework and compatible with multiple browsers, devices and operating systems, bringing a new level of interactivity wherever the Web works.

Ok, it is a tool - I wonder how this tool can be implemented - lets have a closer look.

It is a web-browser plug-in.

Visual C#

We have discussed .NET framework, now we will move on to C#.

As far as I understand C# is an object orientated programming language with a similar syntax to C++ and Java.

I imagine it has similar features to Java in terms of multi-threading and garbage collection.

Lets get more information from Microsoft:

It seems that the Microsoft implementation of C# is Visual C#. Visual studio is the de-facto platform for this.

C# (pronounced "C sharp") is a programming language that is designed for building a variety of applications that run on the .NET Framework. C# is simple, powerful, type-safe, and object-oriented. The many innovations in C# enable rapid application development while retaining the expressiveness and elegance of C-style languages. Visual C# is an implementation of the C# language by Microsoft. Visual Studio supports Visual C# with a full-featured code editor, compiler, project templates, designers, code wizards, a powerful and easy-to-use debugger, and other tools. The .NET Framework class library provides access to many operating system services and other useful, well-designed classes that speed up the development cycle significantly.

I think I have understanding of this now.

I will go back to it later.

Oracle to Microsoft - maybe!

In hope of a new work contract, I am doing some prep-work on the new technologies that are required.

These mainly seem to be Microsoft products.

My background is Oracle and Java.

Lets go through the technologies one by one:

1. .NET Framework

I have installed .NET 4.5 on my local machine.

What is .NET framework?

I suspect it a set of common modules and libraries that are used by competing Microsoft technologies.

Lets find out the official definition;

The .NET Framework is a development platform for building apps for Windows, Windows Phone, Windows Server, and Windows Azure. It consists of the common language runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework class library, which includes classes, interfaces, and value types that support an extensive range of technologies. The .NET Framework provides a managed execution environment, simplified development and deployment, and integration with a variety of programming languages, including Visual Basic and Visual C#.

It seems .NET framework is similar to the Java Virtual Machine. The JVM provides a similar use. It seems they are both used for development and execution, providing the same many advantages of portability, managed environment and ease of use.

As my use is for development as well as execution, I have installed .NET Server edition.

I imagine, as with the JVM, I do not need to go any further than an installation and update of this technology.

Features such as a multi-threading seem to be included as parallel programming.

Ok I am satisfied with this for now - I will go back to it later, but lets move on to the next.