The .NET environment includes the Common Language Runtime, class libraries, assemblies, and, for .NET Framework, the Global Assembly Cache for LabVIEW integration.

Understanding the components of the .NET environment is helpful for understanding how the .NET works as well as for ensuring that your computer is prepared to use .NET with LabVIEW. After learning about the basic components of the .NET environment, verify that the .NET Framework environment on your computer meets the minimum requirements for using .NET Framework with LabVIEW.

The .NET environment comprises the following items:

  • .NET—The collective term for the Common Language Runtime and the class libraries that compose a specific version of .NET.
  • Common Language Runtime (CLR)—An execution system that is responsible for loading and running .NET assemblies. The CLR provides run-time services such as language integration, security enforcement, memory, garbage collection, process management, and thread management. To help .NET communicate with various programs, the CLR provides a data type system that supports multiple programming languages and operating systems. Developers then can view the system as a collection of data types and objects rather than as a collection of memory and threads. The CLR requires compilers and linkers to generate information in the CLR intermediate language (IL) metadata format. All .NET programming language compilers generate CLR IL code rather than assembly code.
  • Class Libraries—A set of classes that provides standard functionality such as input/output, string manipulation, security management, network communications, thread management, text management, and user interface design. These classes provide the same functionality as the Win32/COM system. In .NET, you can use classes created in one .NET language in another .NET language.
  • Assemblies—A unit of deployment similar to a DLL, OCX, or executable for a component in COM. Assemblies are DLLs and executables you build using a .NET compiler. Assemblies can consist of a single file or multiple files. An assembly includes a manifest that contains information about the assembly name, version, publisher security, files that make up the assembly, dependent assemblies, resources, and exported data types.
  • Global Assembly Cache (GAC)—(.NET Framework only) A listing of the public assemblies available on the system. The GAC is analogous to the registry that COM uses.