.NET Micro Framework (.NET MF) is a new technology that can be applied to a variety of small devices. For a relatively new technology, there are already several different development tools and a platform standard already available. Some of the development tools are still in beta, and as you can guess new ideas are already in the works. This application note is a guide to what tools are available for application development. This application note will be updated as new tools become available.

As of this writing there are a couple of .NET MF platform types available for application development: generic .NET MF boards for embedded systems and Windows® SideShow- compatible devices. SideShow is an application that runs on .NET MF, but it is also a specific standard. The .NET MF device must adhere to the SideShow standard. At a minimum to run SideShow, a device must have an LCD, communications port, and a set of buttons for navigation (up, down, right, and left), selection, menu, and back. The device is simple enough that many .NET MF platforms could run SideShow. OEMs use the .NET Micro Framework porting kit to port .NET MF to a specific device. Porting is a separate development process that we will not cover here. Once the port is complete, application development takes place in Visual Studio.

At a minimum, .NET MF application development requires Visual Studio 2005 or higher and the .NET Micro Framework SDK. SideShow requires some addition tools. There are two types of applications that can run in SideShow – built-in applications and gadgets:
• Built-in applications are typically developed by the SideShow OEM. The SideShow SDK is required to develop built-in applications.
• Gadgets are content provider applications that run on the PC. Gadgets download data to a SideShow-compatible device when connected to a PC running Windows Vista Business or Ultimate. Since SideShow Gadgets are PC applications, Gadgets can be written in C++, C# or Visual Basic.NET. For C++, there is the Windows SideShow API. The Windows SideShow API development libraries and sample applications are found in the Windows Software Development Kit Update for Windows Vista. Development at the C++ native level requires some experience in COM. For the rest of us developing in managed code, the Windows Sideshow .NET Framework Components are required to develop a gadget in C# or VB.NET.

Download pdf Notes on Application Development Tools for Microsoft .NET Micro Framework and Windows SideShow