As we all know .Net is not an OS , rather it is a framework providing many features and advantages over the previously used all programming environments. By launching .Net Microsoft has a vision to set certain standards for the programming.

Prior to .Net , seperate and different programming languages and methodologies were / are used for Client-Server and Web Applications. But .Net enabled the developers to design and develop the code which may be used for Client-Server or Web application purpose. For example VB.Net/C#/Perl can be used for Client-Server or Web applications.

Before the .Net arrival , a huge number of lines of code is written in many different languages. These all languages proved their technical usabilities and feasibities in many ways. But all are having a major problem or interoperability and application portability with application written in another language.

Here is the .Net which, till now, brought more than 20 languages such as C#, VB.Net, C++,Java, Eiffel, Fortran on a common platform and provided a binary compatibility.

WebServices :

The use of internet was really restricted up to only certain areas such as email and web nrowsing. There was some scope for e-commerce but with a very high degree of complexity.

But .Net environment is now helped alot to establish a B2B connectivity in between distinct business logics. And too without using browsers. The hetrogeneouse web or client server applications now communicate across the globe using HTTP/SOAP (a commonly accepted communication standard) protocol over the internet and transact more conviniently, never before.

Concept of remoting is now , from the point of programmers, giving new dimensions to Object Oriented programming. Earlier in any programming language creation of object was limited to the local application or code. That means if the client is in need of any object there must be code written by programmer to create it on local machine. And seperate code for the objects that would be created on server.

Remoting is useful to create object on server and transport them across the network by the means of serialization and place them at user end.

Simpler but more pwerful Dynamic web pages :

Using HTML and scripting language like VBScipt, JavaScript, PhP web pages are having very limited functionality as compared to Client server applications. The web pages were a mixture of script with HTML tags. The .Net provided a clear seperation among HTML part of the web page and Scripting. Also provided Event Driven functionality, complete Object Oriented methodology, perfect ViewState management and reliable authorization/Authentication (like Windows Authentication), Dynamic content change without a round trip.

Application Portability :

The .Net applications are easily portable for different kind of clients such as PDA, PCs, Mobile and embeded systems.

The other significant features are better application security, easy deployment of applications, relief from DLL Hell (DLL version problem), Registry entries are the past.