What are the different version of Microsoft .NET Framework?

Microsoft .NET Framework has come long way since .NET Framework 1.0 to .NET Framework 4.0. Microsoft has first launched its Framework version with .NET 1.0 followed by .NET 1.1, .NET 2.0, .NET 3.0, .NET 3.5 and last but not the least .NET 4.0. The .NET Framework 1.1 version had Common Language Runtime (CLR), Web Services and ASP.NET. Then in .NET Framework 2.0, Microsoft enhance the framework with ADO.NET, Cache Dependency, Generics, Globalization, Partial Classes, DPAPI C Data and Protection API, AJAX.

      Moving further to .NET Framework 3.0 came Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows WorkFlow Foundation. In simple words .NET 3.0 = .NET 2.0 + WCF + WCS + WF + WPF. .NET Framework 3.0 was more enhanced in .NET Framework 3.5 and add some more Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows WorkFlow Foundation, LINQ, AJAX, & New Windows Service Standards.

The New .NET Framework 4.0 a boom in the market. Programmer try to learn and find who easily they can develop the application. This Framework has the following features,

1. Application Compatibility and Deployment.
2. Core New Features and Improvements.
3. Managed Extensibility Framework
4. Parallel Computing.
5. Networking.
6. Web.
7. Client.
8. Data.
9. Windows Communication Foundation.
10.  Windows Presentation Foundation.
11. Windows Workflow Foundation.

I have even come across the latest 2010 survey report by Scott Hanselman Blog,

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 = .NET 2.0 + Windows Communication Foundation + Windows Presentation Foundation + Windows Workflow Foundation + Windows Card Space.

Yes, Now we are into Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 which is nothing but Microsoft .NET Framework .NET 2.0 + Windows Communication Foundation + Windows Presentation Foundation + Windows Workflow Foundation + Windows Card Space.

Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 includes a number of services that store state in databases and other storage media. For example, the session state service manages per-user session state by storing it in-process, in memory in an external process , or in a Microsoft SQL Server database, whereas the membership service stores user names, passwords, and other membership data in Microsoft SQL Server or Microsoft Active Directory.

These and other state management services in ASP.NET 2.0 use the provider model pictured in Figure 1-1 to maximize storage flexibility. Providers abstract storage media in much the same way that device drivers abstract hardware devices. The membership service is equally at home using SQL Server or Active Directory, because ASP.NET 2.0 includes providers for each. Moreover, ASP.NET 2.0 can be extended with custom providers to add support for Web services, Oracle databases, SQL Server databases with custom schemas, and other media not supported by the built-in providers.

The Windows Communication Foundation (or WCF) is an application programming interface in the .NET Framework for building connected, service-oriented applications. or “WCF is a unification of .NET framework communication technologies “. WCF is a unification technology, which unites the following technologies:-

• NET remoting
• MSMQ
• Web services
• COM+.

The Windows Presentation Foundation (or WPF) is a graphical subsystem for rendering user interfaces in Windows-based applications. It is the new presentation API in WinFX. WPF is a two and three dimensional graphics engine. It has the following capabilities:-

• Has all equivalent common user controls like buttons, check boxes sliders etc.
• Fixed and flow format documents
• Has all of the capabilities of HTML and Flash
• 2D and 3D vector graphics
• Animation
• Multimedia
• Data binding