Features of C#

Simplicity

All the Syntax of java is like C++. There is no preprocessor and much larger library. C# code does not require header files. All code is written inline.

Consistent Behavior

C# introduced a unified type system which eliminates the problem of varying ranges of integer types. All types are treated as objects and developers can extend the type system simply and easily.

Modern Programming Language

C# supports number of modem features, such as:

• Automatic Garbage Collection

• Error handling features

• Modern debugging features

• Robust Security features

Pure Object-Oriented Programming Language

In C#, everything is an object. There are no more global functions, variable and constants. It supports all three object oriented features:

• Encapsulation

• Inheritance

• Polymorphism

Type Safety

Type safety promotes robust programming. Some examples of type safety are:

• All objects and arrays are initialized by zero dynamically

• An error message will be produced, on use of any uninitialized variable

• Automatic checking of array (out of bound and etc.)

Feature of Versioning

Making new versions of software module work with the existing applications is known as versioning. It is achieved by the keywords new and override.

Compatible with other Language

C# enforces the .NET common language specifications (CLS) and therefore allows interoperation with other .NET language.

Inter-operability

Language interoperability is the ability of code to interact with code that is written using a different programming language. Language interoperability can help maximize code reuse and, therefore, improve the efficiency of the development process. C# provides support for using COM objects, no matter what language was used to author them. C# also supports a special feature that enables a program to call out any native API.

Introduction to C#

Microsoft Corporation developed a new computer programming language C# pronounced as 'C- Sharp'. C# is a simple, modem, object oriented, and type safe programming language derived from C and C++. C# is a purely object-oriented language like as Java. It has been designed to support the key features of .NET framework. Like Java, C# is a descendant language of C++ which is descendant of C language.

C# modernizes C++ by enhancing some of its features and adding a few new features. C# borrows Java's features such as grouping of classes, interface and implementation together in one file so the programmers can easily edit the codes. C# also handles objects using reference, the same way as Java.

Comparing C# to C++ and Java

C# and Java are both new-generation languages descended from a line including C and C++. Each includes advanced features, like garbage collection, which remove some of the low level maintenance tasks from the programmer. In a lot of areas they are syntactically similar.

Both C# and Java compile initially to an intermediate language: C# to Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL), and Java to Java byte code. In each case the intermediate language can be run - by interpretation or just-in-time compilation on an appropriate 'virtual machine'. In C#, however, more support is given for the further compilation of the intermediate language code into native code. C# contains more primitive data types than Java, and also allows more extension to the value types. For example, C# supports 'enumerations', type-safe value types which are limited to a defined set of constant variables, and 'structs', which are user-defined value types.

Unlike Java, C# has the useful feature that we can overload various operators.

Like Java, C# gives up on multiple class inheritance in favor of a single inheritance model extended by the multiple inheritances of interfaces. However, polymorphism is handled in a more complicated fashion; with derived class methods either 'overriding' or 'hiding' super class methods

C# also uses 'delegates'-type-safe method pointers. These are used to implement event handling.

C# versus C++

Although it has some elements derived from Visual Basic and Java, C++ is C#'s closest relative. In an important change from C++, C# code does not require header files. All code is written inline.

As touched on above, the .NET runtime in which C# runs performs memory management, taking care of tasks like garbage collection. Because of this, the use of pointers in C# is much less important than in C++. Pointers can be used in C#, where the code is marked as 'unsafe', but they are only really useful in situations where performance gains are at an absolute premium.

Speaking generally, the 'plumbing' of C# types is different from that of C++ types, with all C# types being ultimately derived from the 'object' type. For instance, C# arrays are bounds checked unlike in C++, and it is therefore not possible to write past the end of a C# array.

C# statements are quite similar to C++ statements. To note just one example of a difference: the 'switch' statement has been changed so that 'fall-through' behavior is disallowed.

        As mentioned above, C# gives up on the idea of multiple class inheritance. Other differences relating to the use of classes are: there is support for class 'properties' of the kind found in Visual Basic, and class methods are called using the Operator rather than the :: operator.

Reflection

.NET Framework's Reflection API allows you to fetch type (assembly) information at runtime programmatically. We can also achieve late binding by using .NET Reflection. At runtime, the Reflection mechanism uses the PE file to read information about the assembly. Reflection enables you to use code that is not available at compile time. .NET Reflection allows an application to collect information about itself and also to manipulate on itself. It can be used effectively to find all types in an assembly and/or dynamically invoke methods in an assembly. This includes information about the type, properties, methods, and events of an object. With Reflection, we can dynamically create an instance of a type, bind the type to an existing object, or get the type from an existing object and invoke its methods or access its fields and properties. We can also access attribute information using Reflection.

Using Reflection, you can get any kind of information which you can see in a class viewer; for example, information on the methods, properties, fields, and events of an object.

The System.Reflection namespace and the System.Type class plays a very important role in .NET Reflection. These two work together and allow you to reflect over many other aspects of a type.

HOW CLR PROVIDES CROSS LANGUAGE INTERACTION

A component can be called by any .NET-based language regardless the original language of that component. The cross-language compatibility is possible because objects created in different .NET languages agree on a common set of types and features. These common types and features are spelled out in the Common Language Specification (CLS).

Let’s take a look how CLR provide cross language interaction:

1. Every .NET based language compiler translates source language program into MSIL code.

2. The CLR also defines, the format' of storing assembly metadata and this means all assemblies whatever language they were written in, share a common format for storing Metadata. '

3. All .NET based language follow Common Language Specification (CLS). CLS specifies a set of features that every .NET complaint language has to follow. A .NET complaint language may have its own unique features but it must follow the common set of features specified in CLS.

Because the target code of each .NET based compiler is represented in same language. The metadata is expressed in same language 'and all sources language confirms to follow a set of features so the codes written in two different languages can interoperate.

Common Language Infrastructure (CLI)

The Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) is an open specification developed by Microsoft that describes the executable code and runtime environment that allows multiple high-level languages to be used on different computer platforms without being rewritten for specific architectures. CLR is Microsoft Commercial implementation of Common Language Infrastructure (CLI).

       The Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) is a theoretical model of a development platform that provides a device and language independent way to express data and behavior of applications.

While the CLI primarily supports Object Oriented Programming (OOP) languages, procedural and functional languages are also supported. Through the CLI, languages can interoperate with each other and make use of a built-in garbage collector, security system, exception support, and a powerful framework.

Garbage Collection

When you initialize a variable using the new operator, you are in fact asking the compiler to provide you some memory space in the heap memory. The compiler is said to "allocate" memory for your variable. When that variable is no longer needed, such as when your program closes, it (the variable) must be removed from memory and the space it was using can be made available to other variables or other programs. This is referred to as garbage collection. In the past, namely in C/C++, this was a concern for programmers because they usually had to remember to manually delete such a variable (a pointer) and free its memory.

The .NET Framework solves the problem of garbage collection by letting the compiler "clean" memory after you. This is done automatically when the compiler judges it necessary so that the programmer doesn't need to worry about this issue.

Garbage collection is a mechanism that allows the computer to detect when an object can no longer is accessed. It then automatically releases the memory used by that object (as well as calling a clean-up routine, called a "finalizer" which is written by the user). Some garbage collectors like the one used by .NET, compact memory and therefore decrease your program's working set.

For most programmers, having a garbage collector (and using garbage collected objects) means that you never have to worry about deallocating memory, or reference counting objects, even if you use sophisticated data structures. It does require some changes in coding style, however, if you typically de-allocate system resources (file handles, locks, and so forth) in the same block of code that releases the memory for an object. With a garbage collected object you should provide a method that releases the system resources deterministically (that is, under your program control) and let the garbage collector release the memory: when it compact the working set.

Just in Time Compiler (JIT)

Machines cannot run MSIL directly. JIT compiler turns MSIL into native code, which is CPU specific code that runs on the same computer architecture as the JIT compiler. Because the common. Language runtime supplies a JIT compiler for each supported CPU architecture, developers can write a set of MSIL that can be JIT-compiled and run on computers with different architectures.

However, your managed code will run only on a specific operating system if it calls platform specific native APIs, or a platform-specific class library.

JIT compilation takes into account the fact that some code might never get called during execution. Rather than using time and memory to convert all the MSIL in a portable executable (PE) file to native code, it converts the MSIL as needed during execution and stores the resulting native code so that it is accessible for subsequent calls.

The loader creates and attaches a stub to each of a type's methods when the type is loaded. On the initial call to the method, the stub passes control to the JIT compiler, which converts the MSIL for that method into native code and modifies the stub to direct execution· to the location of the native code. Subsequent calls of the JIT -compiled method proceed directly to the native code that was previously generated, reducing the time it takes to JIT-compile and run the code.

Managed and Unmanaged Code

Managed code is code that is written to target the services of the common language runtime. In order· to target these services, the code must provide a minimum level of information (metadata) to the runtime. All C#, Visual Basic .NET, and JScript .NET code is managed by default. Visual Studio .NET C++ code is not managed by default, but the compiler can produce managed code by specifying a command-line switch (/CLR).