What exactly do we mean by .NET? In Microsoft marketing speak, all forthcoming versions of desktop and server software will carry the ".NET" label; this will be the case for the Office suite, the SQL Server database, and the Biztalk Server.

We will be looking in most detail at the architecture components and tools used to design and create enterprise Web applications.

With this in mind, we can describe the .NET architecture as follows:

• It is a set of common services which can be used from a number of object languages.
• These services are executed in the form of intermediate code that is independent of the underlying architecture.
• They operate in a runtime (Common Language Runtime) which manages resources and monitors application execution.

On reading this short description, one can be forgiven for drawing a parallel with Java. Indeed, Microsoft makes no secret of the fact that it drew its inspiration, in the most pragmatic sense, from existing technology and Java in particular.

The primary goal of .NET is to provide developers with the means to create interoperable applications using "Web Services" from any sort of terminal, be it a PC, PDA , mobile phone, and so forth.

General .NET Architecture