The .NET/Mono Framework has never been a single, unified stack and over the years Microsoft and Novell added several new versions to cover Linux, OS X, and mobile devices. With the introduction of Windows 8 and Visual Studio 11 we can expect one, maybe two more. In an attempt to clear up some of the confusion this article reintroduces all of the major profiles and many of the lessor know ones.
2011 was a busy year for OSS projects using .NET. Phil Haack has released some highlights.
The open source platform for embedded devices, .NET Micro Framework, has begun beta testing of version 4.2. This build includes the work of both Microsoft and third-party developers, something that is becoming increasingly common as Microsoft redefines its role in the open source community.
Last Wednesday, Thomas Holtq announced the release Pyxis 2 beta 2 of the Pyxis 2.0 operating system for .NET Micro Framework devices.
A few months ago Microsoft announced their plans to release the .NET Micro Framework as an open source project. Since then there has been rumors that Microsoft is using open source as an excuse to abandon the project. The truth is the exact opposite, Microsoft is actually using open source to drive the adoption of .NET Micro.
Nokia announced it will make Microsoft Silverlight 2.0 available for its S60 phones running Symbian OS as well as Series 40 devices and Nokia Internet tablets. Silverlight will give developers opportunities to create rich and interactive applications running on multiple platforms.
The .NET Micro Framework is the smallest runtime available within the .NET Framework. Able to run in only 512k of RAM without an MMU it is targeted at 32-bit processors.
The smallest .NET edition, Micro, is now supported on Analog Devices' Blackfin platform. This makes it the first processor supported by .NET built specifically for digital signal processing.
Microsoft has been pushing a lot of new technology lately, but is any of it actually useful? In the case of .NET Micro, Leviton Manufacturing says it is, though the far more interesting technology is Z-Wave.
The .NET Micro Framework is being positioned by Microsoft for very small devices such as sensors, actuators, and wearable electronics. And unlike the .NET Framework, the Micro Framework doesn't even require an operating system.
