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Microsoft Begins Releasing Source Code for .NET Framework Libraries

Microsoft today followed up on its earlier promise to start releasing the .NET framework library source code for .NET 3.5.

The source code for more than a dozen libraries -- including ASP.NET, Windows Presentation Layer, Windows Forms and the .NET Base Class Libraries -- are now accessible. The complete list of libraries that are now open is available here.

In his blog post today announcing the release, Scott Guthrie, general manager, Microsoft Developer Division, said that more libraries will come soon, including ones for Workflow, Windows Communication Foundation and LINQ.

"We think that enabling source code access and debugger integration of the .NET Framework libraries is going to be really valuable for .NET developers," he commented in his post. "Being able to step through and review the source should provide much better insight into how the .NET Framework libraries are implemented, and in turn enable you to build better applications and make even better use of them."

Instructions for configuring Visual Studio 2008 to access and debug the source code can be found here.

While the source code is being released under the company's read-only reference license (as originally planned), Microsoft has made a change to the license terms.

"When we announced that we were releasing the source back in October, some people had concerns about the potential impact of their viewing the source," Guthrie wrote. "To help clarify and address these concerns, we made a small change to the license...if the software you are developing is for Windows platforms, you can look at the code, even if that software has 'the same or substantially the same features or functionality' as the .NET Framework."

About the Author

Becky Nagel is the vice president of Web & Digital Strategy for 1105's Enterprise Computing and Education Groups, where she oversees the front-end Web team and deals with all aspects of digital strategy for the groups. She also serves as executive editor the ECG Web sites, and you'll even find her byline on PureAI.com, the ECG group's newest site for enterprise developers working with AI. She recently gave a talk at a leading technical publishers conference about how changes in Web technology may impact publishers' bottom lines. Follow her on twitter @beckynagel.