Migrate to .NET Framework

.NET framework 3.0 combines the power of .NET Framework 2.0 with new technologies for building applications that have a visually compelling user experience, seamless communication across technology boundaries, and support for a wide range of business processes.

With Windows Vista, Microsoft has made .NET framework an integral part of the operating system itself rather than a layer on top of it, with some additions to .NET framework 2.0 aimed at standardization of different facets of system and application software for greater interoperability between .NET applications and future Microsoft products.

These additions include –

• Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF): WPF aims at standardization of user interface definition, rendering and behavior using XAML (Extensible Application Markup Language) so as to achieve a uniform programming model for all types of applications (thin-client, thick-client, mobile-client), all types of operating system platforms, and all types of browsers. This is achieved by means of WPF/E (Windows Presentation Foundation/Everywhere) that allows building plug-ins and extensions to support different types of applications, browsers, and operating systems that do not offer native support for WPF.
• Windows Communication Foundation (WCF): WCF aims at standardization of local and remote communication between different software systems and components using asynchronous message-driven architecture similar to web services. It also strives to make remote messaging more secure and reliable.
• Workflow Foundation (WF): WF aims at standardization in defining, managing and executing different types of workflows like user interface control workflow, document management workflow, business rules workflow, system workflow as well as software emulation of human processes as workflows in .NET applications and products.
• Windows CardSpace (WCS): WCS aims at standardization of global digital identity management and authentication/ authorization mechanisms for software systems around the world by means of a Identity Metasystem based on WS-* open industry-standard protocols, consolidating existing identity systems to make them interoperable, secure and reliable. Conceptually, a user can use the same digital identity to log in to his home PC, local corporate network, corporate intranet, as well as any website across the globe that requires authentication. In practice, a user can maintain multiple digital identities revealing varying degree of information about him or her, and judiciously use a relevant identity for authentication in different software systems.