How do I explain the different .NET versions to someone?

Question

My boss keeps asking me "which version of .NET are we upgrading to", to which I answer "3.5, the latest one".

But then he sees things about how .NET 3.5 is just a set of libraries on top of .NET 2.0 and I find myself having to explain it to him.

And of course the version of C# that ships with .NET 3.5 is actually C# 3.0.

What's a good way to explain the different versions of .NET to a non-techie type in a way that doesn't confuse them or freak them out?

Answer 1

You should decompose .NET as a package of three different things:

1. CLR, the runtime
2. Libraries
3. Languages, compilers and tools

This way, it'll be pretty easier to explain.

For instance, in .NET 3.5 we have:

1. .NET CLR v2.0
2. v3.5 assemblies
3. C# 3.0 compiler

Answer 2

And just to add to Mehrdad's list:

4) Admit the nomenclature is positively retarded, and is a good reason that Microsoft's DEVDIV should take the marketing department outside and shoot them.

-Oisin

Answer 3

If I were to load the .NET homepage and see all of the references to 3.5, I'd assume that was the most current version.

Maybe this diagram would help too

Answer 4

Jon Skeet gives a good overview in his book C# in Depth - Chapter 1