.Net Framework 4 Client Profile

WHAT IS IT:

It is a subset of .net assemblies that ‘most’ of the .net applications will require which is designed to decrease installation package size, installation time and thus overall deployment experience.

Full .net framework package should be used only by pure server applications like ASP.NET apps, WCF services, by developers who will be compiling applications (msbuild is not included in Client Profile), and by applications that are using features that are not included into Client Profile. Mainly it’s aiming development machines and web/application servers.

CHANGES COMPARING TO 3.5:

Deployment changes:

• Installation package is currently ~30Mb and should be less by RTM.
• Unlike .Net Framework 3.5 Client Profile it is targeting any OS version.
• It might be redistributed via Windows Update in future. (it would be interesting to see statistics like this for example in Google Analytics but unfortunately only IE is sending installed CLR versions in user-agent string)
• Speech assemblies are included in client profile starting from .Net Framework Beta 2. Cool! I’m using it J

FURTHER READING:

Deep dive into .Net Framework 4 Client profile:

• .Net Framework 4 Client Profile – Introduction
• What’s new in .Net Framework 4 Client Profile Beta 2

Regards,

Oleh