.NET Micro Framework 4.2 Beta Available for Download, Now with Visual Basic Support

Microsoft is one step closer to wrapping up version 4.2 of the .NET Micro Framework. Early adopters can now head over to CodePlex, download and start testing the first Beta development milestone of .NET Micro Framework 4.2.

This is their chance to not only take .NET Micro Framework 4.2 Beta out for a spin, but actually contribute to the final 4.2 release, and there’s not much time to do so either.

According to Microsoft, the Release Candidate for .NET Micro Framework 4.2 is expected sometime by the end of next month, and once it its RC, the release will largely be identical to the RTM.

Microsoft’s Colin Miller enumerated some of the changes introduced in .NET Micro Framework 4.2 Beta, including:

“• preliminary object model, samples and infrastructure to support Remote Firmware Update,

• object model for A/D conversion,

• support for VB.NET.

• PKStudio as a future replacement for SolutionWizard.

• StringBuilder and plans to add RegEx by the 4.2 release.”

One key change in .NET Micro Framework 4.2 Beta is the fact that .NET developers building projects for resource constrained devices will also be able to leverage Visual Basic in addition to C#.

“Up until now the platform has been a C# only platform but the v4.2 Beta brings VB support. The support requires the installation of Visual Studio 2010 SP1 installations (Express versions support is not yet implemented fully),” a member of the VB team stated.

The plan is for early adopters to focus on the Beta testing of .NET Micro Framework 4.2 Beta until next month.

No later than the end of July 2010, the .NET Micro Framework 4.2 RC milestone will be provided to testers, allowing them to get a taste of the RTM Build.

“We really encourage you to review the features and give us any feedback that you have on that; try out things that you are interested in the emulator; if you have a hardware platform, decide what parts of 4.2 you will support and start of try out the transition work,” Miller said.

.NET Micro Framework 4.2 Beta is available for download here.