.NET Framework 3.0 ( 1.0 Overview)

Figure 1. The .NET Framework 3.0.

The Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 (formerly WinFX), is the new managed code programming model for Windows. It combines the power of the .NET Framework 2.0 with four new technologies: Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), and Windows CardSpace (WCS, formerly "InfoCard"). There are no changes to the version of the .NET Framework 2.0 components included in the .NET Framework 3.0. It also means that applications that run on the .NET Framework 2.0 today will continue to run on the .NET Framework 3.0.

Figure 1. The Detailed .NET Framework 3.0.

The benefits of .NET Framework 3.0 today are as following:

• to build applications that have visually compelling user experiences
• seamless communication across technology boundaries
• the ability to support a wide range of business processes
• an easier way to manage your personal information online.

If you do have the .NET Framework 2.0 installed, the .NET Framework 3.0 installer will only install the new components of the .NET Framework 3.0. The .NET Framework 3.0 uses the 2.0 version of the CLR too.

Since the .NET Framework 3.0 includes only new components that are added to the .NET Framework 2.0 and there is no overlap between the assemblies of the .NET Framework 2.0 and the .NET Framework 3.0, there's no real "Side by Side" scenario. You can run applications based on the .NET Framework 2.0 and applications based on the .NET Framework 3.0 on the same machine.

The .NET Framework 3.0 will be available for and supported on Windows Vista™, Windows Server 2003 (SP1), and Windows XP (SP2). The .NET Framework 3.0 is a core component of the Windows Vista operating system, and is installed by default on Windows Vista.

Notes from articles:
Learn .NET Framework 3.0
.NET Framework 3.0 Versioning and Deployment Q&A