Deploying and Configuring Applications

A key part of the life cycle of any application is its deployment—getting it onto the right machines. This section includes information on distributing your applications using the .NET Framework.


Essentials

Simplifying Deployment and Solving DLL Hell with the .NET Framework
This article introduces the concept of an assembly and describes how the .NET Framework uses assemblies to solve versioning and deployment problems.
Avoiding DLL Hell: Introducing Application Metadata in the Microsoft .NET Framework
Discussed in this article are the use of metadata for easy linking and loading of assemblies, the relationship between metadata and concepts such as IDL and type libraries, and the metadata hierarchy.
Building, Packaging, Deploying, and Administering Applications and Types, Part 1
Discover how to build, package, and deploy applications and types for the .NET Framework, including the role and significance of assemblies, private and otherwise, and see the way metadata and assemblies help to solve some historical problems like versioning conflicts and DLL hell, and how they improve system stability.
Building, Packaging, Deploying, and Administering Applications and Types: Part 2
See how to create an assembly that can be used by multiple applications, and learn how assembly versions are created and how the CLR's strict versioning policy comes into play.
Versioning, Compatibility, and Side-by-Side Execution in the .NET Framework
Learn how the behavioral changes of the versions 1.0 and 1.1 of the .NET Framework might affect customers.
Side-by-Side Execution of the .NET Framework
In-depth information about side-by-side execution of the .NET Framework intended for individuals who are building or configuring .NET Framework applications or components.
Persisting Application Settings in the .NET Framework
Discover how to persist applications settings at runtime in the Microsoft .NET Framework by saving them to the registry or by serializing them to a configuration file.
Determining When to Use Windows Installer Versus XCOPY
Compares two approaches for deploying Microsoft .NET-based applications; the DOS XCOPY command and the Microsoft Windows Installer technology.
Structuring a .NET-based Application For Easy Deployment
Learn how the good practice of well-named namespaces and a carefully planned use of attributes benefits both you and other users of your classes when designing the architecture of class libraries and assemblies in your .NET-based application.