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.NET Framework Programming in Visual Studio

.NET Framework 3.5

This section of the documentation discusses application development with the .NET Framework in Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual J#, or Visual C++. Any of these programming languages can be used equally well in the subjects covered in this section. Applications are built on the services of the common language runtime and take advantage of the .NET Framework class library.

You can download the .NET Framework 3.5 from the Microsoft Download Center.

In This Section

Quick Technology Finder: Provides a table of links to the main technology areas of the .NET Framework.
What's New in the .NET Framework: Describes key features that have been added or modified in the latest versions of the .NET Framework.
Overview of the .NET Framework: Describes key .NET Framework concepts such as the common language runtime, the common type system (CTS), cross-language interoperability, managed execution, assemblies, and security.
Accessing Data (Visual Studio): Discusses aspects of incorporating data access functionality into your applications.
Language-Integrated Query (LINQ): Discusses the introduction of powerful query capabilities into the language syntax of C# and Visual Basic, and the common model for querying relational databases, XML documents, datasets, and in-memory collections.
.NET Framework Core Development: Discusses programming subjects not related to user-interface creation: security, exception handling, I/O, serialization, and so on.
.NET Framework Advanced Development: Discusses topics such as hosting the common language runtime, managed threading, and using side-by-side execution.
Security in Native and .NET Framework Code: Discusses security issues covering the lifetime of an application.
XML Documents and Data: Provides an introduction to .NET Framework XML features, with links to major sections of the .NET Framework documentation in which you can find more information.
Globalizing and Localizing Applications: Discusses the steps needed to make your application useful for an international audience.
.NET Compact Framework: Introduces the .NET Framework-based, hardware-independent environment for running applications on resource-constrained computing devices.
.NET Framework Samples: Provides instructions for the implementation of specific development tasks or technologies, as well as examples of complete .NET Framework applications.

Related Sections

.NET Framework Class Library: Contains syntax and examples for the entire .NET Framework.
Devenv Command Line Switches: Contains language reference topics that explain how to launch Visual Studio and build from the command prompt.
Error Messages (Visual Studio): Contains error message topics for Visual Studio.
Automation and Extensibility Reference: Contains automation model language-reference topics for the integrated development environment (IDE), including debugging.
Language Equivalents: Compares keywords, data types, operators, and programmable objects (controls) for Visual Basic, C++, Visual C#, Java, JScript, and Visual FoxPro.
Customizing and Automating the Development Environment: Contains topics for dialog boxes, windows, and other UI elements found in Visual Studio. Also covers Shortcut Keys.
Visual Studio Commands and Switches: Contains language-reference topics that explain how to use commands to interact with the IDE from the Command window and Find/Command box.
Visual Studio Walkthroughs: Contains topics discussing the steps involved in the development of specific applications types or major application features.
Technical Support Options for Visual Studio: Describes various ways to get technical support.
Accessibility for People with Disabilities: Describes features that make Microsoft Visual Studio more accessible for people with disabilities.
Visual Studio: Links you to major starting points in the Visual Studio documentation.