Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
The Common Language Infrastructure (CLI)
Every programming language has a set of intrinsic types representing such objects as integers,
floating point numbers, characters, and so on. Historically, the characteristics of these types
have varied from one programming language to another, and from platform to platform. For
example, the number of bits constituting an integer has varied widely depending on the lan-
guage and platform.
This non-uniformity, however, will not work if we want programs to play well with pro-
grams and libraries written in other languages. In order for there to be order and cooperation,
there must be a set of standards.
The
Common Language Infrastructure (CLI)
is a set of standards that ties all the compo-
nents of the .NET Framework into a cohesive, consistent system. It lays out the
concepts
and
architecture
of the system, and specifies the rules and conventions to which all the software
must adhere. The components of the CLI are illustrated in Figure 1-7.
Figure 1-7.
Components of the CLI
Both the CLI and C# have been approved as open international standard specifications
by Ecma International. (The name “Ecma” used to be an acronym for the European Computer
Manufacturers Association, but it's now just a word in itself.) Ecma members include
Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett Packard, Adobe, and many other corporations associated with com-
puters and consumer electronics.
