| Online home business owners depend on a lot
of different software tools to manage both their websites and their office procedures.
They would soon become overwhelmed with the work if they did not automate various parts of
their workload.
While evaluating new software usually a trial download is
offered to “test drive” it and see exactly how it functions. As part of the
download and installation of this software more and more applications are now requiring
that the user first install the “.NET Framework 2.0”. What exactly is this and
should you be concerned when asked to install it?
.Net (pronounced “dot Net”) has been around since
2002. It’s not brand new or beta technology. It is software that is developed and
distributed by Microsoft. If you were to search their website for .Net, you would find it
defined as: “… software that connects information, people, systems, and
devices.”
Initially Microsoft began naming all of their software with
.Net added to it. This marketing plan did not work as expected so they went a different
direction; giving the impression that .Net was dead.
In reality .Net is far from dead. More specifically the
“.Net Framework” goes far deeper than the initial definition above. The
“Framework” is a collection of library type programs Microsoft has written which
make writing business and other applications for the Windows OS more reliable and robust.
It is used primarily by software developers and programmers.
An average person downloading and installing the framework
directly from Microsoft’s website would probably not be impressed after installation.
From their view point nothing would work differently on their PC and there would be no
additional applications to run.
Microsoft defines the “Framework” as:
“… an integral Windows component for building and running the next generation of
software applications and Web services.”
The “Framework” operates between business
applications and the Windows operating system. It provides a vast collection of
programming libraries which developers can use to display windows, manipulate text and
numbers, send email, talk to other computers, etc. It also provides a consistent method of
programming for the desktop environment, the web server environment and many of the new
portable electronic devices being released. The framework also takes advantage of the
latest programming techniques (object oriented development) which have been in use by
other programming languages such as Java.
So what does this all mean for the average home business
owner and should they really even care?
- The .Net Framework is reliable and safe to install.
- Business applications are easier to install and keep
updated.
- Business applications can be integrated more easily with
other applications and other websites. They can also make better use of new hardware
devices being continually released.
- Microsoft is making stronger security practices a more
integrated part of software development.
- Microsoft is integrating the .Net framework in its own
software products which it sells.
- The .Net Framework is becoming a core part of the Windows
OS. In the near future it will no longer be a separate download.
The .Net Framework is NOT “magic software” which
allows all new applications to be bug-free and reliable. It is simply a complex framework
or environment for programmers to develop with. It also provides a richer, cleaner, and
more complete environment than in the past. Good software development and quality control
procedures are still very important for the final business application product.
So today, if you see new home business software products
which require the “.NET Framework 2.0”, feel assured that the latest and
greatest development environment is being used as part of the software product and that it
is safe to install.
For further information and reading check out: http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/technologyinfo/overview/
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