.NET Framework Difference FAQs-1

1. What is the difference between CCW and RCW?

S.No	CCW	RCW
1	Abbreviation: CCW stands for COM Callable Wrapper	Abbreviation: RCW stands for Runtime Callable Wrapper
2	Meaning: COM to .NET communication happens through CCW	Meaning: .NET to COM Communication happens through RCW
3	Process involved for CCW: i)Create Assembly and compile with strong name. ii)Register Assembly using regasm iii)Register Assembly in GAC using gacutil /i iv)Use tlbexp to export Assembly as Type Library for COM.	Process involved for RCW: i)Create Public Key Token file using sn.exe ii)Use tlbimp /keyfile: /out: iii)Register Imported Assembly in GAC using gacutil /i

2. What are the differences between DLL and EXE?

S.No	DLL	EXE
1	DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library	EXE stands for Extensible Execute File
2	DLL can not be used by End User.	EXE is used by End User like-Client
3	We can not run the DLL	We can run the EXE
4	An ActiveX DLL runs in process server running in the same memory space as the client process.	An ActiveX EXE is an out of process server which runs in it's own separate memory space.
5	If an unhandled error occurs it will cause the client process to stop operating.	If an error occurs the client processes can continue to operate.
6	DLL will run within an EXE	EXE can run independently
7	DLL is an in-process file	EXE is an out-process file
8	A DLL is visible to the system as a Win32 DLL but most likely without any entry points. The .NET runtime stores information about the contained assembly in its own header.	An EXE is visible to the system as a regular Win32 executable. Its entry point refers to a small loader which initializes the .NET runtime and tells it to load and execute the assembly contained in the EXE.

3. What are the differences between Managed Code and Unmanaged Code?

S.No	Managed Code	Unmanaged Code
1	It is executed under CLR	It is not executed under CLR
2	It compiles to intermediate language	It compiles directly to machine code
3	It provides services like security, exception handling, garbage collection etc	It does not provide security, exception handling, garbage collection etc
4	It can access both managed and unmanaged code	It can access only unmanaged code