Dr. Dobb's | Microsoft Ships SDK For Embedded Applications

Microsoft Ships SDK For Embedded Applications

The software supports a number of hardware platforms based on the ARM7 and ARM9 processor cores.

February 13, 2007
URL:http://www.drdobbs.com/embedded-systems/microsoft-ships-sdk-for-embedded-applica/197005909

Microsoft on Wednesday launched a software development kit for Visual Studio developers who want to build .Net applications for embedded devices, such as home automation systems, industrial sensors, retail displays, and health care monitors.

The software maker announced the availability of the .Net Micro Framework SDK at Embedded World in Nuremberg, Germany. The framework was built as a revamp of its previous .Net development platform for the embedded environment, said Colin Miller, director of .Net Micro Framework at Microsoft.

"Development on this platform works seamlessly with the same tools that are used throughout the Microsoft family of platforms," Miller said in a statement. "This decreases the distinction between embedded application development and other application development tasks and helps reduce the cost and risks of these projects."

The SDK enables developers to take advantage of the C# development language and debuggers in Visual Studio. In addition, the kit offers hardware emulation and graphical debugging of emulated and real hardware. The SDK supports a number of hardware platforms based on the ARM7 and ARM9 processor cores.

The SDK is available through Microsoft's developer site. System requirements include Windows XP, Vista, or Server 2003; and Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition or greater.