| .NET Micro Framework | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developers | Microsoft and.NET Foundation |
| Initial release | 2007; 19 years ago (2007) |
| Stable release | |
| Written in | C++ |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Platform | ARM,Blackfin |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Software framework |
| License | Apache License 2.0[2] |
| Website | netmf |
| Repository | github |
The.NET Micro Framework (NETMF) is a.NET Framework platform for resource-constrained devices with at least 512 kB of flash and 256 kB ofrandom-access memory (RAM). It includes a small version of the .NETCommon Language Runtime (CLR) and supports development inC#,Visual Basic .NET, and debugging (in an emulator or on hardware) usingMicrosoft Visual Studio. NETMF features a subset of the .NET base class libraries (about 70 classes with about 420 methods), an implementation ofWindows Communication Foundation (WCF), aGUI framework loosely based onWindows Presentation Foundation (WPF), and a Web Services stack based on Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) andWeb Services Description Language (WSDL). NETMF also features added libraries specific to embedded applications. It isfree and open-source software released underApache License 2.0.
The Micro Framework aims to make embedded development easier, faster, and less costly by giving embedded developers access to the modern technologies and tools used by desktop application developers. Also, it allows desktop .NET developers to use their skills inembedded systems, enlarging the pool of qualified embedded developers.
The Micro Framework is part of the.NET Foundation.[3] Announced at the Build 2014 conference, the foundation was created as an independent forum to foster open development and collaboration around the growing set of open-source technologies for .NET.[4]
Relative to other .NET platforms, the unique features of the Micro Framework are:
Due to the constraints under which it operates, the Micro Framework does have some limits beyond those imposed by its slimmed-down libraries. For example, the platform does not supportsymmetric multiprocessing, multidimensional arrays, machine-dependent types, or unsafe instructions. The CLR is an interpreter rather than a just-in-time compiler, and uses a simpler mark-and-sweepgarbage collector instead of a generational method. An ahead-of-time compiler is being developed[5] using a modifiedLLVM compiler. Interoperation between managed and native code currently has several limitations. As of 2011, Micro Framework supported two .NET languages: C# and Visual Basic.[6]
As of 2013, the .NET Micro Framework was supported onARM architecture processors (including ARM7, ARM9, and Cortex-M) and has been supported onAnalog DevicesBlackfin in the past. The Porting Kit is now available along with the source code as a free download under theApache License 2.0 at the Microsoft Download Center.
The Micro Framework has its roots in Microsoft'sSmart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) initiative and was used inMSN Direct products such as smart watches before being made available to third-party developers early in 2007.[7] It is a common platform forWindows SideShow devices and has been adopted in other markets, such as energy management, healthcare, industrial automation, and sensor networks.
Microsoft allows developers to create applications using the Micro Framework without charge, and makes asoftware development kit (SDK) available for free download that can be used with all versions of Visual Studio, including the free Express editions.[8]
In November 2009, Microsoft released the source code of the Micro Framework to the development community asfree and open-source software under the Apache License 2.0.[9]
In January 2010, Microsoft launched thenetmf.com community development site to coordinate ongoing development of the core implementation with the open-source community.[10]
On 9 January 2010, GHI Electronics announced FEZ Domino, the first member of the product line called FEZ (Freakin' Easy!), a combination ofopen-source hardware with a proprietary closed-source version of .NET Micro Framework.[11]
On 3 August 2010, Secret Labs announced the Netduino, the first all-open-source electronics platform using the .NET Micro Framework.[12]
In February 2011, Novell posted a preview of the Mono 2.12 C# compiler, the first open-source compiler for .NET Micro Framework.[13]
On 23 January 2017, after numerous attempts ([14] and[15]) to revive .NET Microframework project and bring it to community governance and a period of work "in the dark", a group of embedded systems developers publicly announced .NET nanoFramework as spin-off of .NET Micro Framework.[16] A major rework on the build system, an easier way of adding new targets, a modernized API followingUWP, a Visual Studio extension with all the tools required for managing targets, full development experience from coding to debugging on the native code and support for ARM Cortex-M and ESP32 were the key differences at that time. On 12 October 2018 the first official release of the class libraries and firmware images was announced.[17] On 2020-06-17 the developers announced release of nanoFramework[18]
On 16 December 2016, GHI Electronics announced their own implementation of Micro Framework called TinyCLR OS, citing lack of maintenance of NETMF by Microsoft.[19] On 7 July 2017 GHI announced 5th preview of TinyCLR OS.[20] On 2 February 2018 GHI announced 8th preview of TinyCLR OS.[21] On 5 April 2018 GHI announced 10th preview of TinyCLR OS.[22] On 27 April 2022 GHI announced release of TinyCLR OS version 2.2.[23]
As of 2023, only nanoFramework and TinyCLR OS continue development of a framework that can run .NET code on a microcontroller.
Multiple vendors make chips, development kits, and more that run the Micro Framework.[24]
Netduino is an open-source electronics platform using the Micro Framework. Originally created by Secret Labs, Netduino has been manufactured and maintained by Wilderness Labs Inc.[25] since the acquisition of Secret Labs in 2017.[26] Based on 168Mhz Cortex-M4 (STM32F4) with up to 1,408 KB of code storage and 164 KB of RAM. On-board USB, Ethernet, Wifi, SD card slot. Development environment is MS Visual Studio and C#. Pin compatible with Arduino shields although drivers are required for some shields.
GHI Electronics makes several modules that support the Micro Framework:
GHI Electronics also makes the.NET FEZ line of very small open-source hardware boards with proprietary firmware, targeted for beginners. They are based on the USBizi chipset and all its features. The FEZ Domino board offers USB host. Even though FEZ is for beginners, it is also a low-cost starting point for professionals wanting to explore NETMF.[31] Some of these boards are physically compatible with theArduino.
GHI Electronics does not recommend to use its Micro Framework-based devices for new designs and instead recommends its TinyCLR-based devices.[32]
Mountaineer boards, part of the Mountaineer Group, used to make a small range ofopen-source open-hardware boards that make use of the Micro Framework. Mountaineer have ported the Micro Framework for use on theSTM32 family ofmicrocontrollers featured on their Mountaineer boards and elsewhere.[33]
STMicroelectronics, creators of the microcontroller familySTM32, make low-costdiscovery boards to showcase the controllers, and provides ports of the Micro Framework to run on them.[34]
Netmfdevices was an open-source electronics platform using FEZHacker and .NET Micro Framework.[35]
The Micromint Bambino 200 is the firstmulti-core processor SBC compatible with the .NET Gadgeteer framework.[36] The model 200 is powered by an NXP LPC4330, the first dual-core ARM Cortex-M microcontroller. Its Cortex-M4 and Cortex-M0 cores are both capable of 204 MHz. It has 264 KB SRAM onboard and 4 MB of flash. The model 200E has all the same features as the model 200, and increased flash memory to 8 MB, 10 Gadgeteer sockets, anEthernet port,microSD socket, and other features.
Several manufacturers make boards and modules compatible with the.NET Gadgeteer rapid-prototyping standard for the framework.
| Overview | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software |
| ||||||||||||
| Licenses | |||||||||||||
| Forges | |||||||||||||
| Related | |||||||||||||
