Coming Soon: .NET Framework Libraries Source Code -- Visual Studio Magazine

Desmond File

Coming Soon: .NET Framework Libraries Source Code

Don't look now, but Microsoft just announced that it's releasing the reference source code for the .NET Framework libraries. Developers will gain the ability to review and debug .NET source code under Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5.

Released under the Microsoft Reference License, developers are able to view, but not modify or distribute, the reference source code. The goal of the release, the company says, is to give .NET developers an opportunity to better understand "the inner workings of the framework's source code."

In a blog posting here, Microsoft Developer Division General Manager Scott Guthrie summarizes the release as follows:

"Having source code access and debugger integration of the .NET Framework libraries is going to be really valuable for .NET developers. Being able to step through and review the source should provide much better insight into how the .NET Framework libraries are implemented, and in turn enable developers to build better applications and make even better use of them."

Do you think the release of reference .NET Framework source code will help your dev shop produce better software? E-mail me at mdesmond@reddevnews.com.

Posted by Michael Desmond on 10/03/2007

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