However, one of the biggest advantages that the runtime framework provides is a language-neutral execution environment. All code, irrespective of the source language, is compiled automatically into a standard intermediate language (IL) – either on command or when first executed (in the case of ASP+). The runtime framework then creates the final binary code that makes up the application and executes it. The compiled IL code is used for each request until the source code is changed, at which point the cached version is invalidated and discarded.

So, whether you use Visual Basic, C#, JScript, Perl or any of the other supported languages, the intermediate code that is created is (or should be) identical. And the caching of the final binary object code improves efficiency and scalability at runtime as well.

C# is the new language from Microsoft especially designed for use with the Next Generation Web Services framework and ASP+. It combines the power and efficiency of C++ with the simplicity of Visual Basic and JScript.

One thing that this achieves is the ability to call from one language to another, and even inherit from objects created in one language and modify them within another language. For example, you can inherit an object that is written in C# in your VB program and then add methods or properties, or over-ride existing methods and properties. In fact, parts of the framework, and the entire ASP+ object model, are now implemented internally using C# rather than C++.

So, the new runtime framework introduces a true multi-language platform for programming any kind of application. As most of our current development is in the area of distributed applications, especially Internet- and Intranet-based applications, many the new features are directly aimed at this type of development.