Internal 'Project Lightning' Begins

Microsoft begins internal development on a new platform, initially codenamed 'Project Lightning,' aiming to address developer productivity and the challenges of internet-scale computing, eventually evolving into 'Next Generation Windows Services' (NGWS).

Significance

This marked the nascent stage of .NET, where the core ideas of a managed runtime, common language infrastructure, and a new flagship language (C#) began to take shape, signifying a monumental internal shift for Microsoft.