The focus of the book is on COM Interoperability (since it's a much larger subject), and the heart of the discussion is broken down into four parts: Using COM Components Within the .NET Framework Using .NET Framework Components from COM Designing Good .NET Framework Components for COM Clients Designing Good COM Components for .NET Framework Clients The scope of the book is just about everything related to using "unmanaged code" in the .NET Framework. Technologies built on top of COM Interoperability are also covered-Interoperability of Windows Forms Controls and ActiveX controls, Interoperability with COM+, and Interoperability with Distributed COM (DCOM). Although Platform Invocation Services is a separate technology from COM Interoperability, there are many areas of overlap, so including in the book is a natural fit. All of these technologies are a core part of the Common Language Runtime and .NET Framework, and will likely be used not only as the path of migration for existing software projects, but for brand new software development for the next several years.

Adam Nathan is a software design engineer on Microsoft's .NET Common Language Runtime QA team. Taking on the role of an external software developer, Adam has worked to ensure the quality and usability of COM Interoperability for close to three years. He has participated in the design decisions that have shaped the product from its beginnings, and thus is able to give a unique perspective when explaining this complex technology to the reader. Adam is a co-author of ASP.NET: Tips, Tutorial, and Code.

Adam has server on a panel of .NET experts, provided technical assistance during hands-on labs, and helped to prepare deonstrations at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conferences in 2000 and 2001. He has learned where developers of aqll skill levels frequently struggle with COM Interoperability and Platform Invocation Services, and regularly provides technical assistance on .NET mailing lists. Adam received an honors B.S. degree in computer science at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.