Chapter 2: selective topics in computer science

Introduction to .NET

.NET is a software development framework created by Microsoft that provides a controlled

environment for developing, running, and executing applications. Here are some key aspects to
understand what .NET is:

1. Framework Overview

 Multi-language Support: .NET supports multiple programming languages, such as C#,

VB.NET, and F#. Developers can use their preferred language to build applications that
can run on the .NET platform.
 Cross-Platform: With the introduction of .NET Core (now part of .NET 5 and later),
applications can run on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and
Linux.

2. Key Components

 Base Class Library (BCL): A comprehensive collection of reusable classes, interfaces,

and value types that developers can use to build applications. It includes functionalities
for collections, file handling, networking, and more.
 Common Language Runtime (CLR): The execution engine for .NET applications. It
provides services such as memory management, garbage collection, security, and
exception handling, allowing developers to focus on writing code without worrying about
underlying system complexities.

3. Application Types

 Web Applications: Built using ASP.NET, which allows developers to create dynamic
web pages and services.
 Desktop Applications: Created using Windows Forms or Windows Presentation
Foundation (WPF) for rich desktop experiences.
  Mobile Applications: Developed using Xamarin, enabling cross-platform mobile
development.
 Cloud Applications: Can be integrated with Azure services to build scalable and reliable
applications.

4. Development Tools

 Visual Studio: The primary IDE for .NET development, providing features such as
IntelliSense, debugging tools, and project management capabilities.
 Visual Studio Code: A lightweight, cross-platform code editor that supports .NET
development with various extensions.

The .NET Platform and Its Architecture

The .NET platform is a comprehensive framework developed by Microsoft that provides a

consistent programming model for building applications. It consists of several key components
and services that work together to facilitate software development.

2.1.1 Overview of .NET Architecture

 Layered Architecture: The .NET framework is organized into layers, making it modular
and extensible.
o Common Language Runtime (CLR): The execution engine for .NET
applications, responsible for executing code and providing services such as
memory management and security.
o Base Class Library (BCL): A collection of reusable classes and types that
provide a wide range of functionalities, including file I/O, data manipulation, and
networking.
o Application Models: Different models for building applications

2.2 Uses of .NET Platform in Application Development

The .NET platform is a versatile framework widely used for various types of application
development. Its capabilities and features make it suitable for a range of projects, from simple
desktop applications to complex enterprise-level systems. Here are some key uses of the .NET
platform:

1. Web Application Development

 ASP.NET: A powerful framework for building dynamic web applications and services.
o MVC (Model-View-Controller): A design pattern that separates application
logic, user interface, and data, enhancing maintainability.
o Web API: Enables the creation of RESTful services that can be consumed by
various clients, including mobile apps and front-end frameworks.

2. Desktop Application Development

 Windows Forms: A UI framework for building rich desktop applications with a

graphical user interface (GUI).
 WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation): A more modern approach to desktop
application development that supports advanced graphics, animations, and data binding.

3. Mobile Application Development

 Xamarin: A framework that allows developers to create cross-platform mobile

applications using C#. With Xamarin, you can share code across iOS, Android, and
Windows platforms, significantly reducing development time.

4. Cloud-Based Applications

 Azure Integration: .NET applications can seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Azure
services, enabling developers to build scalable and reliable cloud-based solutions.
Features include:
o Azure Functions: Serverless computing for running event-driven code.
o Azure App Services: Hosting web applications, REST APIs, and mobile
backends.

5. Micro services Architecture

  Building Micro services: The .NET platform supports the development of micro
services, allowing applications to be broken down into smaller, independently deployable
services. This promotes scalability and flexibility.
 Docker Support: .NET applications can be containerized using Docker, making it easier
to deploy and manage applications in different environments.

6. Game Development

 Unity: A popular game development engine that supports C# scripting, leveraging the
.NET framework to create both 2D and 3D games across multiple platforms.

7. Enterprise Solutions

 Business Applications: .NET is commonly used in enterprise environments for building

robust applications that require high performance, security, and scalability.
 Integration with Legacy Systems: .NET can interact with existing systems and
databases, facilitating the modernization of legacy applications.

8. IoT Applications

 Internet of Things (IoT): .NET can be used to develop applications that connect and
control IoT devices, integrating with cloud services for data processing and analytics.

2.3 Introduction to Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 is an integrated development environment (IDE) that provides
developers with tools and features to create applications for the .NET framework. It supports
multiple programming languages and offers a rich set of debugging, testing, and deployment
tools. Here’s an overview of its key components:

2.3.1 SDI and MDI Forms

 Single Document Interface (SDI)

 o Definition: In an SDI application, each document is opened in its own window.
This means that users can have multiple instances of the application open
simultaneously, each displaying a different document.
o Use Cases: Ideal for applications where users frequently need to work on multiple
documents independently, such as text editors or simple image viewers.
o Advantages: Simplicity in managing windows; users can easily switch between
open documents.
 Multiple Document Interface (MDI)
o Definition: MDI allows multiple documents to be opened within a single parent
window. Each document is a child window of the main application window.
o Use Cases: Commonly used in applications that require users to work with
multiple related documents, such as IDEs or complex data management
applications.
o Advantages: Better use of screen real estate; users can see all open documents at
once and switch between them easily.

Chapter 3

Object-Oriented Fundamentals in VB.NET

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of

"objects," which can contain data and code that manipulates that data. VB.NET, as an object-
oriented language, supports several fundamental concepts that facilitate the creation of modular,
reusable, and maintainable code. Here are the key object-oriented fundamentals in VB.NET:

1. Classes and Objects

 Class: A blueprint or template for creating objects. It defines properties (attributes) and
methods (functions) that describe the behaviors of the objects.
 Object: An instance of a class. It encapsulates state (data) and behavior (methods) and
represents a specific entity in the application.

2. Encapsulation
  Definition: The practice of bundling data and methods that operate on that data within a
single unit (class) and restricting access to some of the object's components.
 Access Modifiers: Control the visibility of class members:
o Public: Accessible from anywhere.
o Private: Accessible only within the class.
o Protected: Accessible within the class and derived classes.

3. Inheritance

 Definition: A mechanism that allows a new class (derived class) to inherit properties and
methods from an existing class (base class).
 Benefits: Promotes code reuse and establishes a hierarchical relationship between
classes.

4. Polymorphism

 Definition: The ability of different classes to be treated as instances of the same class
through a common interface, allowing methods to be invoked based on the object that it
is acting upon.

5. Abstraction

 Definition: The concept of hiding complex implementation details and exposing only the
necessary parts of an object to the user.

6. Interfaces

 Definition: A contract that defines a set of methods that implementing classes must
provide.
3. Language Fundamentals in VB.NET

This chapter covers the foundational concepts of the VB.NET programming language, essential
for writing effective and efficient code. It includes variables, control flow, methods, events,
classes, and more.

3.1 Language Fundamentals

3.1.1 Variables and Data Types

 Variables: Named storage locations in memory that hold data. Variables must be
declared before use.

Data Types: Define the type of data a variable can hold. Common data types in VB.NET
include:

 Integer: Whole numbers (e.g., Dim count As Integer)

 String: Text (e.g., Dim message As String)
 Boolean: True/False values (e.g., Dim isActive As Boolean)
 Double: Floating-point numbers (e.g., Dim temperature As Double)

3.1.2 Control Flow

Control flow statements dictate the order in which code is executed.

3.2 Classes and Objects

 Classes: Defined as templates for creating objects. They encapsulate data and behavior.
 Objects: Instances of classes. They can be created using the New keyword.

Chapter 4: Exception Handling in VB.NET

Exception handling is a critical aspect of programming that allows developers to manage errors
gracefully, ensuring that applications can respond to unexpected situations without crashing. In
VB.NET, exception handling is implemented using structured exception handling (SEH)
mechanisms, which provide a way to handle runtime errors effectively.

4.1 What are Exceptions?

 Definition: An exception is an unexpected event that occurs during the execution of a

program, disrupting the normal flow of instructions. Exceptions can arise from various
issues, such as invalid user input, file not found errors, or network connectivity problems.

4.1 Introducing Exception Handling

Definition: Exception handling is a programming paradigm used to manage errors and

exceptional conditions that may occur during the execution of a program. It allows developers to
maintain control over the flow of execution, ensuring that the application can respond to issues
without crashing.

Why Use Exception Handling?

 Error Management: It helps in gracefully managing errors, allowing the program to

continue running or terminate safely.
 User Feedback: Provides users with meaningful error messages instead of abrupt
program termination.
 Resource Management: Ensures that resources are properly released, preventing
memory leaks and other resource-related issues.

Common Types of Exceptions:

 System.Exception: The base class for all exceptions in .NET.

 DivideByZeroException: Thrown when attempting to divide by zero.
 FileNotFoundException: Occurs when a file specified for access cannot be found.
 FormatException: Raised when an invalid format is encountered, such as parsing a non-
numeric string to a number.

4.2 Structured Exception Handling

VB.NET employs structured exception handling (SEH), which provides a defined way to handle
exceptions using the Try...Catch...Finally construct.

4.2.1 Try Block

 The Try block contains code that may throw an exception. This is the section where you
anticipate potential errors.

4.2.2 Catch Block

 The Catch block is executed if an exception occurs in the Try block. You can define
multiple Catch blocks to handle different types of exceptions.

4.2.3 Finally Block

 The Finally block is optional and will execute regardless of whether an exception was
thrown or caught. It is typically used for cleanup operations, such as closing files or
releasing resources.

Chapter 5: Manipulating Files in VB.NET

Manipulating files is a fundamental part of programming, allowing applications to read from and
write to files. This chapter focuses on how to open, read, write, and manipulate text files using
VB.NET.

5.1 What is File Manipulation?

File manipulation refers to the process of performing operations on files, such as creating,
reading, updating, and deleting files. In VB.NET, the System.IO namespace provides classes and
methods to handle file operations efficiently.

5.2 Opening a Text File

To work with a text file in VB.NET, you can use several methods provided by the System.IO
namespace. The most common classes for handling text files are Stream Reader for reading and
Stream Writer for writing.

5.2.1 Using Stream Reader to Open and Read a Text File

The Stream Reader class is used for reading from text files. Here’s how to open a text file and
read its contents:

5.1 Read a File Line by Line in VB.NET

To read a file line by line, you can use the StreamReader class. This allows you to process each
line of the file individually.

5.2 Write to a Text File

Writing to a text file can be accomplished using the StreamWriter class. You can choose to
overwrite an existing file or append to it.

5.3 How to Copy, Move, and Delete a File

VB.NET provides methods in the System.IO.File class for copying, moving, and deleting files.

5.3.1 Copying a File

To copy a file, use the File.Copy method. You can specify whether to overwrite the file if it
already exists.

5.3.2 Moving a File

To move a file, use the File.Move method. This is useful for relocating files within the file
system.

5.3.3 Deleting a File

To delete a file, use the File.Delete method. Always check if the file exists before attempting to
delete it.

Chapter 6: Database Programming in VB.NET

Database programming is a critical aspect of software development, allowing applications to

interact with data stored in databases. In VB.NET, database programming involves connecting to
databases, executing commands, and managing data. This chapter introduces the fundamentals of
database programming in VB.NET.

6.1 Understanding Databases

A database is a structured collection of data that can be easily accessed, managed, and updated.
Common database systems include:

 Relational Databases: Use tables to store data (e.g., Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL,
Oracle).
 NoSQL Databases: Use various data models, such as document, key-value, or graph
(e.g., MongoDB, Redis).

6.2 ADO.NET Overview

ADO.NET (ActiveX Data Objects .NET) is the primary technology for accessing and
manipulating databases in .NET applications. It provides a set of classes for:

 Connecting to databases
 Executing SQL commands
 Retrieving and managing data

6.3 Key Components of ADO.NET

6.3.1 Connection
The SqlConnection class is used to establish a connection to a database. You need a connection
string that contains information about the database server, database name, and authentication
details.

6.3.2 Command

The SqlCommand class is used to execute SQL statements against a database. You can use it to
perform operations like SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE.

6.3.3 DataReader

The SqlDataReader class is used to read data from a database in a forward-only stream. It is
efficient for retrieving data quickly.

6.3.4 DataAdapter and DataSet

The SqlDataAdapter class is used to fill a DataSet with data from the database. A DataSet is an
in-memory representation of data that can hold multiple tables and relationships.

6.4 Performing Database Operations

6.4.1 Inserting Data

You can insert data into a database using an INSERT SQL command.

6.4.2 Updating Data

To update existing records, use the UPDATE SQL command.

6.4.3 Deleting Data

You can delete records from a database using the DELETE SQL command.

6.5 Exception Handling in Database Programming

It is essential to implement exception handling when performing database operations to manage
errors gracefully.