Expert .NET Micro Framework

Expert .NET Micro Framework

Released April 2008
Publisher(s): Apress
ISBN: 9781590599730

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Book description

The Microsoft .NET Micro Framework is a small and efficient .NET runtime environment used to run managed code on devices that are too small and resource constrained for Windows CE and the Compact Framework.

Expert .NET Micro Framework will teach you everything you need to know in order to use the .NET Micro Framework to create effective embedded applications. It begins with the basics of accessing hardware and networking before delving deep into the less well—known areas such as cryptography and globalization, and how to use technologies such as wireless communication that are not directly supported by the .NET Micro Framework.

This book is a must if you want to get as much as possible out of the .NET Micro Framework to write powerful embedded applications.

Expert .NET Micro Framework also describes how to use resources, and write globalized and multilingual embedded applications. You will learn how to effectively use binary serialization to store data permanently in flash memory or exchange data with a PDA or PC. Topics like cryptography and encrypted data exchange with a .NET or Compact Framework application are covered.

What you'll learn

  • Describes and compares wireless communication technologies and how to use them even if they are not directly supported by the .NET Micro Framework

  • Describes the whole class library and features of the .NET Micro Framework, illustrated by working examples

  • Demonstrates how to access hardware components with managed drivers and write applications with a graphical user interface

  • Includes a detailed description of how to effectively extend or write hardware emulators using undocumented features of the configuration engine and emulator components

Who this book is for

This book is for anyone with an interest in creating embedded systems. Primarily, it is written for the benefit of .NET developers with a background in C#, but it will equally appeal to hardware developers with a background in Assembler, C, or C++ who will be impressed by the benefits that managed code can bring to their devices.

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Dedication
  3. Contents at a Glance
  4. Contents
  5. About the Author
  6. About the Technical Reviewer
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. Introduction
  9. CHAPTER 1: Introducing the .NET Micro Framework
    1. What Is the .NET Micro Framework?
    2. .NET Micro Framework History
    3. Motivation
    4. Technical Overview
    5. Links for Further Information
    6. Summary
  10. CHAPTER 2: Devices
    1. Freescale i.MXS Development Kit
    2. Device Solutions Meridian and Tahoe
    3. Digi International's Embedded Development Products
    4. SJJ Embedded Micro Solutions Embedded Development Kit
    5. Crossbow Imote2.NET Edition
    6. Adeneo Ports
    7. GHI Electronics Embedded Master
    8. emtrion HiCO.ARM9
    9. Summary
  11. CHAPTER 3: Getting Started
    1. Getting Your System Ready
    2. Using Visual Studio and the .NET Micro Framework
    3. The .NET Micro Framework SDK
    4. Summary
  12. CHAPTER 4: Introducing the .NET Micro Framework Base Class Library
    1. Text Output for Diagnostics
    2. Pausing Program Execution
    3. Setting and Getting the System Time and Time Zone
    4. Using Timers
    5. Using Strings
    6. Using Arrays
    7. Using Collections
    8. Working with Numbers
    9. Mathematical Functions
    10. Exception Handling
    11. Summary
  13. CHAPTER 5: Accessing Hardware
    1. What Are GPIO Ports?
    2. The RS232 Serial Port
    3. Pin Usage and Reservation
    4. The I2C Bus
    5. The SPI Bus
    6. Other Hardware
    7. Obtaining Power Supply and Charging State Information
    8. Obtaining Processor Speed Information
    9. System Identification
    10. Summary
  14. CHAPTER 6: Networking
    1. Sockets
    2. Web Services for Devices
    3. Summary
  15. CHAPTER 7: Wireless Communication
    1. Wireless LAN
    2. Bluetooth
    3. ZigBee
    4. Z-Wave
    5. Comparing Wireless Technologies
    6. Links to Bluetooth, ZigBee, and Z-Wave OEM Modules
    7. Summary
  16. CHAPTER 8: Cryptography
    1. XTEA: A Symmetric Algorithm
    2. RSA: An Asymmetric Algorithm
    3. Summary
  17. CHAPTER 9: Advanced .NET Micro Framework Programming
    1. Multithreading and Synchronization
    2. Weak Delegates
    3. Execution Constraints
    4. Binary Serialization
    5. Storing Data Permanently in Flash Memory
    6. Summary
  18. CHAPTER 10: Globalization and Localization
    1. Resources
    2. Cultures
    3. Multilingual Applications
    4. Summary
  19. CHAPTER 11: Graphics and Graphical User Interfaces
    1. Drawing on the Display Using the Bitmap class
    2. Creating Complex User Interfaces with Interaction
    3. Summary
  20. CHAPTER 12: Hardware Emulation
    1. Why Use Hardware Emulation?
    2. Getting Started with the Emulator
    3. Emulator Components
    4. XML Configuration
    5. More About the Emulator
    6. Summary
  21. CHAPTER 13: Emulator Components
    1. GPIO Ports
    2. The Serial Port
    3. The I2C bus
    4. The SPI Bus
    5. Emulator Timing
    6. Summary
  22. Index

Product information

  • Title: Expert .NET Micro Framework
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: April 2008
  • Publisher(s): Apress
  • ISBN: 9781590599730