14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is pressing onward with plans to open up .NET Micro by allowing the community of developers leveraging the framework access to the source code. An integral part of the evolution of .NET Micro Framework is the release of the Microsoft .NET Micro Framework Porting Kit Version 3.0. The Redmond company is currently allowing developers to access .NET Micro Framework Porting Kit 3.0 free of charge via the Microsoft Download Center. With the Porting Kit, customers can tailor the 3.0 runtime to their hardware in supported toolchains.
“As you all know, we are working through all the issues associated with moving the product from a revenue model to an 'open' model. That will all take place with the next release as promised earlier. In the interim, we are taking some steps with the 3.0 product which is available for use in development and products as before. To facilitate the broadest use of the platform, we are making the porting kit available as a free download from the Microsoft Download Center – the same place where the SDK is available,” revealed a member of the .NET Micro Framework team.
It was at the start of May 2009 that the software giant announced the transition of the .NET Micro Framework to an open model. At this point in time the migration is still on, with Microsoft having still to figure out how it will deliver the source code for the framework to the community. In addition to the now free Porting Kit, customers can also download and integrate the NET Micro Framework Porting Kit Version 3.0 Service Pack 1.
“There is a Service Pack that was just released for the 3.0 porting kit. We are not going to take the time to merge those two releases at this time so anyone wanting to start with the porting kit will have to download the porting kit and then install the Service Pack over that,” the .NET Micro Framework team representative added.
.NET Micro Framework Porting Kit Version 3.0 and NET Micro Framework Porting Kit Version 3.0 Service Pack 1 are available for download here.