Introducing the .NET Micro Framework Base Class Library

This chapter gives you an overview of the basic features and classes of the .NET Micro Framework. The .NET Micro Framework is a subset of the full .NET Framework, but it also provides new namespaces and classes. This chapter considers the differences between the full .NET and .NET Micro Framework, so you will see what is possible and what features are not supported with the .NET Micro Framework. We will examine how you can output text for diagnostics, pause program execution, and use timers. You will also learn how to use strings, numbers, arrays, and lists. Finally, this chapter will show you how to handle exceptions and use several new C# 3.0 language features with the .NET Micro Framework, including implicitly typed variables, automatic properties, object initialization, extension methods, and even Language Integrated Queries (Linq).