does .Net 4.5 include .Net 4.0

Question

I am developing a C# desktop application using Winforms. I created an installation strategy using visual studios click once installation tool. Luckily it provides clients to detect, download and setup the related prerequisite components.

My question is I started to develop this app with .NET 4.0 and then upgraded it to .NET 4.5 now on the prerequisites list both 4.5 and 4 is checked. i am wondering if i uncheck the .NET 4.0 component would it be alright?

does .NET 4.5 include .NET 4.0?

Solution 1

When .NET 4.5 is installed it effectively replaces .NET 4.0 on the machine. .NET 4.0 gets overwritten by a new version of .NET 4.5 which - according to Microsoft - is supposed to be 100% backwards compatible.

Read these very good articles on the same:

.NET 4.5 is an in-place replacement for .NET 4.0

.NET Versioning and Multi-Targeting - .NET 4.5 is an in-place upgrade to .NET 4.0

Solution 2

I think there is no need for 4.0 if you target 4.5

See Installing the .NET Framework 4.5

The .NET Framework 4.5 replaces the .NET Framework 4. When you install the .NET Framework 4.5 on a system that has the .NET Framework 4 installed, the assemblies are replaced.*

Solution 3

It doesn't include it per se(as some portions are overwritten), however if you target 4.0 then it should work with 4.5, but NOT vice versa.

Comments

[MDMoore313]

There are features of .NET 4.5 that are not available in 4.0, so the best practice is to target the older version, to keep from being tempted to use features that are non-existent in 4.0.

[Tolga Evcimen]

yeah you are stating something complicated :) i didn't exactly get it.

[Tolga Evcimen]

hence since i test and see my application doesnt require any .net 4.0 specific assembly i should not remove it from prerequisit list. Thanks.

[rich p]

Your answer seems to argue that 4.0 does not include 4.5. Not helpful.