What is .NET Micro Framework?

The Microsoft .NET Micro Framework combines the reliability and efficiency of managed code with the premier development tools of Microsoft Visual Studio to deliver exceptional productivity for developing embedded applications on small devices.

The .NET Micro Framework brings a rich, managed-code environment to smaller, less expensive, and more resource-constrained devices. Requiring only a few hundred kilobytes of RAM and an inexpensive processor, the .NET Micro Framework was built from the ground up to let you build applications using familiar Visual Studio development tools.

With .NET Micro Framework SDK, you can develop your embedded solutions in C# using a subset of the .NET libraries focused on embedded applications. Your development environment is Visual Studio, where you can take advantage of its powerful editing, object browsing, project management, and debugging capabilities. These capabilities are available when using the .NET Micro Framework SDK's extensible device emulation system or on real hardware.

The .NET Micro Framework extends Microsoft's offerings for creating embedded systems by providing a managed-code environment focused on small devices. It brings a new level of efficiency and reliability to embedded devices that don't need the advanced capabilities of Windows XPEmbedded or Windows CE with the .NET Compact Framework.

Greater Productivity

The Microsoft .NET Micro Framework SDK supports development of embedded applications in the C# language using a subset of the .NET libraries, and is fully integrated with the Microsoft Visual Studio development environment. This lets you use your experience with these tools and technologies on embedded platforms and take advantage of the robustness of managed code. And you can also leverage existing solutions where .NET is used on the client or server.

• Extend the reach of your C# and .NET experience to small embedded devices with the managed-code environment of the .NET Micro Framework.
• Powerful Visual Studio-based development and debugging environment lets you focus on the code not the tools.
• Quickly develop, test, and debug code even before actual hardware is available using the extensible emulator.

Support For Small Devices

The Microsoft .NET Micro Framework is targeted toward a new generation of less expensive, more power-efficient 32-bit processors. Fastexecution lets the process run at smaller duty cycles than on previous platforms, spending more time in power-efficient sleep modes.

• Requires only a few hundred kilobytes of RAM, and as little as 512K of flash memory.
• Supports processors with or without an MMU.
• Exposes power management interfaces to managed code that enables your application to maximize battery life.

Robust Managed-Code Environment

An on-device implementation of a subset of the .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR) brings the advantages of .NET development to small devices.

• Enables writing of simpler, more fail-safe code through built-in support for garbage collection and exception handling.
• Safeguards against errant execution by supporting only "safe" IL instructions.
• Allows straightforward support for new hardware with the ability to write device drivers in C# for hardware connected through standard interfaces, such as SPI, I2C, GPIO, and USART.

Microsoft .NET Micro Framework SDK includes:

Microsoft Visual Studio Integration:

The .NET Micro Framework SDK integrates into the Visual Studio environment, supporting C# development with productivity-boosting features such as on-device debugging, object browsing, IntelliSense, and integrated build and deployment.

Extensible Emulator:
Extend the core emulator included in the SDK to reflect your target hardware capabilities. Add simulated peripheral devices, such as displays, sensors, and servo controls. Then deploy to your customized emulator and test your code on the virtual hardware. Want to see the impact of a faster clock speed or try a different I/O configuration? Just change the parameters in the XML-based configuration file.

Supported CPUs:
The .NET Micro Framework is supported by a number of ARM7- and ARM9-based processors. Minimum of 256KB RAM and 512K Flash/ROM required for development and deployment.

To develop for Microsoft .NET Micro Framework 2.0, you need:

• Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition or greater

Selecting An Embedded Platform