Template:C sharp:History

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Summary

C# is a language designed by Microsoft as an answer to C++ for their .NET platform. It resembles C++ and Java on a lot of points, but there are some important differences. One major difference is C# contains a garbage collection through the .NET framework while C++ requires manual resource management. Overall performance of the C# is generally very good even though it was never intended to directly compete with C++'s performance.

Design

C# was designed from the ground up to be completely Object Oriented. It supports inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation. The syntax of C# resembles that of C++ and very strong influences of Java and Delphi can also be seen in the design. Primary focus of the C# language is to provide a simple, modernized general-purpose programming language with very strict typing.

Environment

Like all .NET languages, C# is compiled to MSIL. This intermediate code is then compiled right before execution (in a process called Just-in-time compilation, or JIT). This differs from Java in that the final code is native code and runs as such. It is not interpreted while running.

Versions

1.0

C# 1.0 was the first release of C#, and is the one most resembling earlier languages in features and syntax. C# 1.0 notably lacks generics because of the limitations of versions 1.0 and 1.1 of the .NET framework.

2.0

C# 2.0 is the most current stable version of C# from Microsoft, and will only compile and execute for .NET Framework version 2.0 or later. It contains generics and template metaprogramming, anonymous delegates with type inference (closely resembling anonymous functions), and other interesting features like Python-style 'yield' iterators.