IDE combines the editor, compiler and other useful tools in the same software package. Its advantage is that when a program with syntax errors is compiled, the programmer sees the error messages and the original program at the same time -- this makes debugging much easier. Also, some IDEs contain debuggers. Visual J++, VisualAge for C++ or Java, Java WorkShop, and Visual Caf�?�© are IDEs.
From : www.course.com/careers/glossary/programming.cfm
Microsoft's set of software technologies for connecting information, people, systems and devices. It is based on web services which are small applications that can connect to each other as well as to other larger applications over the Internet. The OSS project Mono is an implementation of the .NET development framework.
From : www.netproject.com/docs/migoss/v1.0/glossary.html