Microsoft releases low-end embedded software platform

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Feb. 13, 2007

Microsoft officially released the .NET Micro Framework Software Development Kit (SDK), today at the Embedded World conference in Nuremburg, Germany. The new, low-end member of Microsoft's embedded software lineup extends the company's reach into high-volume, cost-sensitive devices and subsystems with severely constrained processor and memory resources.

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The .NET Micro Framework (.NET MF) SDK enables developers to take full advantage of the C# development language and the "rich development and debugging experience" that Visual Studio provides, according to Microsoft. The SDK also offers user-extensible hardware emulation and seamless, graphical debugging of emulated and real hardware.

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The .NET MF grew out of Microsoft's Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) initiative, with embryonic versions variously dubbed .NET Embedded and TinyCLR. It supports low-end embedded procesors and doesn't require an MMU (memory management unit). Microsoft says a typical runtime image is about 300 KB in size, and that it runs comfortably on platforms equipped with 256KB of RAM and 512KB of flash memory. The newly released .NET MF SDK currently supports the ARM7TDMI and ARM920T chipsets, and support for ARM's Cortex M3 core is under development.

Microsoft's other general-purpose embedded software platforms are Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded. In contrast to the estimated 256KB of RAM and 512KB of flash memory required to run an entire .NET MF application, Windows CE's kernel alone requires 300 KB, and a complete Windows CE application typically consumes on the order of 4-8 MB of RAM and 8-16 MB of flash memory. The resources required for a typical Windows XP Embedded application, meanwhile, are substantially greater those required by Windows CE.

Left to right: Freescale's SideShow reference design; Digi's teeny .NET MF-powered WiFi module; Salton's .NET MF-powered coffepot
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Buzz surrounding the .NET MF has been building since it was first announced under that name last May. Reference designs are already available from both Freescale and SJJ Embedded Micro Solutions, with more in the works, and Digi last May announced .NET MF support for its tiny wired and wireless networking modules such as the Wi-ME WiFi adapter. Then, in November, Salton unveiled a coffee maker that uses .NET MF to serve up-to-date weather along with a fresh cup of Joe.

Colin Miller, director of Microsoft's .NET Micro Framework group, told WindowsForDevices.com that he expects future applications for the .NET MF to include additional SideShow devices, wireless remote controls, home automation components, health care equipment, and retail products.

.NET Micro Framework Architecture
The current release of the SDK is version 2.0. Microsoft's published roadmap for the .NET MF is:

Web Services for Devices (WSD) client available Spring 2007
Porting kit available Spring 2007
WSD server available Summer 2007
Integrated TCP/IP stack "coming soon"
Version 3.0 SDK available Q1 2008

"Development on this platform works seamlessly with the same tools that are used throughout the Microsoft family of platforms. This decreases the distinction between embedded application development and other application development tasks and helps reduce the cost and risks of these projects," Miller stated.

The .NET Micro Framework SDK 2.0 requires a host platform running Windows XP, Vista, or Windows Server 2003. Development requires Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition or greater.

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Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Windows is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries and is used by WindowsForDevices under license from owner. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. WindowsForDevices is an independent publication not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.