.Net...to install or not?!?

[PoohsHunnyBee]

Hi there, I have some basic questions; I am not a web developer beyond the
scope of the simple stuff I can do with Front Page so I am not super informed
with this realm of terminology, I am a little confused when I read FAQ's
about .Net,
what I would like to know is...do I really need to install it? I am mostly
a home computing kind of gal and don't even surf a whole lot. Will I be
missing something if I don't have it? I know I certainly don't need it as an
application, but will I be hindered in my travels on the web without it?
Will I be unable to access certain things? Will Windows cease to run
properly? ( I shouldn't think so as this is an option on my install disc, not
a necessity it would seem). Is everything going to be based on this system
and the updates will be inevitable or can I save the space on my harddrive
and ignore this framework and it's updates all together?!?
Please let me know what you can in relation to these questions, I
appreciate the advice, Thanks!
--
If sponges didn't grow in the ocean...how much more water would there be ?!?

[Cor Ligthert]

Pooh,

When I read your message than I think, you can install it, however it does
probably nothing for you at the moment otherwise you would have had a
message that it was needed.

It will not harm however gives no benefits as well.

You need only to install it when you use programs which use the net
framework.
As I always write, see it as a servicepack and decide yourself if you need
it.

However more and more programs will use it, so it is probably only a delay
when you don't install it, as it is in the same way as with servicepacks.

Cor

[Morten Wennevik]

Hi PoohsHunnyBee,

It is a little unclear what you are doing.
You do need .Net if you plan to create .Net Web Pages.

You don't need .Net for surfing on the web. Web Pages created with .Net
displays like any other web page in any browser (files created with .Net
can be identified with the extension .aspx), and only the web server needs
..Net installed (there are a few exceptions, but those are probably mostly
limited to intranets).

This is a random sample grabbed from google of a page created with .Net:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/default.aspx

..Net isn't really an application, it is an extension to windows, and not
unlike DirectX required for certain applications. If you get an
application requiring .Net, chances are .Net is shipped along with it.

There is no harm installing it, but you probaly don't need it.

--
Happy Coding!
Morten Wennevik [C# MVP]

[Cor Ligthert]

> .Net isn't really an application, it is an extension to windows, and not

unlike DirectX required for certain applications. If you get an
application requiring .Net, chances are .Net is shipped along with it.

Better is to install it only once and not with every program that uses Net
there is no need for that.

Cor

[Morten Wennevik]

Ah, but you don't install DirectX every time you get a new program that
requires it do you? Even though it is shipped with the program :)

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 12:07:53 +0100, Cor Ligthert
<no************ @planet.nl> wrote:

.Net isn't really an application, it is an extension to windows, and not
unlike DirectX required for certain applications. If you get an
application requiring .Net, chances are .Net is shipped along with it.

Better is to install it only once and not with every program that uses
Net
there is no need for that.

Cor

--
Happy Coding!
Morten Wennevik [C# MVP]

[Cor Ligthert]

Morton,

Ah, but you don't install DirectX every time you get a new program that
requires it do you? Even though it is shipped with the program :)

We don't however you would see how many do that. You should see all those
game programs which has to be discontinued because they want to install an
older DirectX. I am almost sure most people just install them.

:-)

Cor

[PoohsHunnyBee]

Thanks for the responses guys...gives a little clarity.I guess this is one of
those issues where there is no definitive answer.
I don't plan on using it to build anyting, but since this is a new install
of XP Pro I had to go to updates and of course it offers me the .Net
framework and service packs. I had only wondered if it was optional now, but
was going to end up being the way of the future when everyone would NEED to
have it installed. I think I am probably safe to simply leave it off for
now, the service packs have been giving me nothing but grief in downloading
anyway :o{
Thanks again for the input, Ta!

"PoohsHunny Bee" wrote:

Hi there, I have some basic questions; I am not a web developer beyond the
scope of the simple stuff I can do with Front Page so I am not super informed
with this realm of terminology, I am a little confused when I read FAQ's
about .Net,
what I would like to know is...do I really need to install it? I am mostly
a home computing kind of gal and don't even surf a whole lot. Will I be
missing something if I don't have it? I know I certainly don't need it as an
application, but will I be hindered in my travels on the web without it?
Will I be unable to access certain things? Will Windows cease to run
properly? ( I shouldn't think so as this is an option on my install disc, not
a necessity it would seem). Is everything going to be based on this system
and the updates will be inevitable or can I save the space on my harddrive
and ignore this framework and it's updates all together?!?
Please let me know what you can in relation to these questions, I
appreciate the advice, Thanks!
--
If sponges didn't grow in the ocean...how much more water would there be ?!?