Managed Code and Native Code

本文出自：http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsembedded/ce/aa714498.aspx

Microsoft offers a rich set of programming tools to create managed code and native code applications for Windows CE. As a developer, you have several options for application development tools, but to choose the correct one, you should understand the difference between managed code and native code application development.

Managed code is written to a set of run-time environment application programming interfaces (APIs). It is generally easier and faster to write managed code than it is to write native code. Also, managed code is portable across software platforms and processors. The run-time environment is usually portable across platforms and processors as well. Portability means that you can reuse code more easily. The run-time environment also provides integrated XML Web service support, memory management ("garbage collection"), and easy to use APIs for commonly used functionality, so you do not have to add these features to their code. Most managed code is typically paired with a Just-in-Time (JIT) compiler that can pre-compile the managed code to make it run at close to native code performance. Code written in Microsoft Visual Basic .NET, Microsoft Visual C# .NET or other .NET languages is managed code. Visit the Visual Studio Web site for information about writing managed code applications.

Native code is written to a specific set of software platform APIs and a specific microprocessor. Typically, native code offers the highest performance with the smallest footprint, but the compiled code (the executable) can run only on the specific software platform and processor. Native code also requires you to write your own security and memory management code—tasks that can be challenging if you're not familiar the requirements. Code written in Microsoft Visual C++ or eMbedded Visual C++ is native code. Visit the eMbedded Visual C++ section of the Visual Studio .NET Web site for more information.

The type of application being created dictates whether you choose managed or native code:

• When a consistent programming model and time-to-market are the primary considerations, Visual Studio .NET offers unparalleled advantages for creating managed code applications.
• When performance and control are the number one priorities, consider using eMbedded Visual C++ to write native code applications.

Application Development Tool Options

There are several options for application developers targeting Windows CE-based devices. However, certain tools are only compatible with specific operating systems. Following is a list of application development tool options:

Visual Studio .NET 2003 Use Visual Studio .NET when you are developing managed applications using Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET programming languages. Important note: The original version of Visual Studio .NET does not support managed application development for any version of Windows CE or Windows Mobile software for Pocket PC and Smartphone.

eMbedded Visual C++ Use eMbedded Visual C++ to develop Visual C and Visual C++ Win32 applications as well as applications using Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) and Active Template Library (ATL).

eMbedded Visual Basic Use eMbedded Visual Basic to develop Visual Basic applications for Windows CE 3.0 running ARM processors and Pocket PC 2000 or Pocket PC 2002-based devices.

Platform Development Use the platform development tools in Windows CE to develop Visual C and Visual C++ Win32 applications.