Side-by-Side Execution 

Side-by-side execution is the ability to install multiple versions of code so that an application can choose which version of the common language runtime or of a component it uses. Subsequent installations of other versions of the runtime, an application, or a component will not affect applications already installed.

This section describes side-by-side execution, how the runtime determines which version of the .NET Framework assemblies to load, and how to design software to take advantage of side-by-side execution.

In This Section

• Side-by-Side Execution Overview
  Describes what side-by-side execution is, why it is important, and what problem it solves.

• Side-by-Side Execution Fundamentals
  Describes how side-by-side execution works.

• Installing Multiple Versions of the .NET Framework
  Provides information on installing and using several versions of the .NET Framework.

• How to: Use an Application Configuration File to Target a .NET Framework Version
  Describes how to create a configuration file that an application can use to target a version of the common language runtime.

• Creating Multiple Versions of an Application or Component
  Provides information on how to create and deploy applications and components designed for side-by-side execution.

• Determining a Servicing Strategy for Applications and Components
  Discusses how to create a service model for versioned components and applications.

Reference

• <supportedRuntime> Element
  Describes the configuration schema element that specifies which versions of the runtime are supported by an application.

Related Sections

• Assemblies in the Common Language Runtime
  Provides a conceptual overview of assemblies.

• Application Domains
  Provides a conceptual overview of application domains.