14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has made available for download updated versions of .NET Framework 3.5, 2.0 Service Pack 1 (IA64), 2.0 Service Pack 1 (x64), 3.0 Service Pack 1, and 2.0 Service Pack 1 (x86). While .NET Framework 2.0 SP1 and 3.0 SP1 concern users of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, the update to .v.3.5 will also impact Windows Vista. This is because .NET Framework 3.5 is essentially a superseder of all the other variants of .NET Framework. The Redmond company shipped all the updates at the end of the past week.
"Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 contains many new features building incrementally upon .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0, and includes .NET Framework 2.0 service pack 1 and .NET Framework 3.0 service pack 1", Microsoft revealed, offering as examples the "feature sets in Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows CardSpace. In addition, .NET Framework 3.5 contains a number of new features in several technology areas which have been added as new assemblies to avoid breaking changes."
The .NET Framework is a resource addressed to developers that look to build .NET applications on top of the Windows platform. However, .NET Framework is by no means limited to the Windows operating system, also permitting the creation of programs aimed at the web, at the server-side, and applications for consoles or databases. And in this regard, the Redmond company's managed code programming model (the .NET Framework) allows developers the flexibility to build applications not only for the Windows client, but also for servers and embedded or mobile devices.
"To support this variety, the .NET Framework includes a broad set of supporting class libraries, including: Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), for visually stunning user experiences on Windows clients; Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), enabling fast and flexible communications among applications across your enterprise; Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), allowing developers to build workflows into any application; ASP.NET, for high-performance and interactive Web-based applications; Libraries for handling XML, data, IO, cryptography, text-to-speech, and more", Microsoft added.
.NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1 can be grabbed here. .NET Framework 3and 3.0 SP1 can be downloaded from here.