.NET frame work

history:

.NET technology was launched by microsoft to beat the sun java ,initially microsoft only had visual basic ,and vc++, in cometition with java but java was catching market very fast. Java tools were best for web application.

Misrosoft had been running a secret project called "next generation windows services"(NGWS) ,the outcome of this project is now well known as .NET.

VC++ was so too complex to learn about ,so many libraries and so many data types,on the other hand talking about visual basic it was too easy to design serious application hence, JAVA was the choice left for the users.

.NET is a purely object oriented approach .It has a single class library.

whatever language you use it does not matter it supports almost all kind of language may it be C ,C++,C#,VB,J#. every language uses the same calss library.

And hence user dont need to learn different library while switching from one language to other only the syntax is different the class library is same

When you write the code and compile it ,it gets converted into intermediate language and finally when it runs it get coverted to .NET class libraries.

So there wont be any performance difference between codes in diferent languages.

What is the differnce between .NET and visual studio.NET ?

Never get confused between .NET and visual studio.NET ,VS.NET is simply and editor provided by microsoft by which you could write your programmes easily.

VS.net automatically generates a lot codes , while users just use a drag and drop form it provide build in applications and shortcuts, VS.NET is not arequired thing to do...

but if we dont use it ,it would be very tiring task to write lenghty codes ,so going with visual studio is much better option.