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Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

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Re: Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

#81
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does it compare to Swift/Xcode/Mac Native?

You've listed three very different things there. For Swift, compare it to C# (depends on personal preference) For XCode, compare it to Visual Studio (IMO, VS is light years ahead) For Mac Native, compare to the .NET runtime (IMO .NET is better but it's not as clear cut)

> For XCode, compare it to Visual Studio (IMO, VS is light years ahead)

I agree. VS is the best IDE I've ever used by far.

> For Mac Native, compare to the .NET runtime (IMO .NET is better but it's not as clear cut)

The only thing I wish is that MS made it a bit easier to make .NET transparent for the user. Occasionally you need to install a version of the runtime when you install a new program, it'd be nice if that was all "built-in" and taken care of instead of adding another step to the installation.

Re: Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

#82
post #31

This is interesting but is there any commitment to support it long term? I remember when Silverlight was supposed to be the savior that brought .NET to Mac and Linux, but that didn't last more than 5 years. Would be nice for MS to say they guarantee support for 10, 15, etc. years.

This is the CLR and .NET class libs. Unlike Silveright they have been supported for 15 years already, and will be aggresively developed in the future too. Besides, they've just been opensourced, even if this IDE project dies, those will stick around as long as Java will...

Re: Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

#83
post #31

This is interesting but is there any commitment to support it long term? I remember when Silverlight was supposed to be the savior that brought .NET to Mac and Linux, but that didn't last more than 5 years. Would be nice for MS to say they guarantee support for 10, 15, etc. years.

Silverlight is still supported by Microsoft - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle?c2=12905

I have the largest cable provider in the country and when I click "watch TV on my laptop" it launches Silverlight. (It sucks, by the way). But people pretending the thing isn't used and isn't supported are really grasping at straws here.

If you're going to bring a plastic knife to a watergun fight, at least point it in the right direction...

You know who didn't (and does not) support Silverlight? Developers!

We moved on from Silverlight well before Microsoft did. That's the important distinction when you talk about sunsetting technologies. Microsoft's track record here is FAR better than that of Google or Apple.

Re: Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

#84

They mercifully waited until Java caught up a bit with version 8. Seriously, they could have fair chance, C# was so much better, but today it's still quite better but java is proven and has more libs.

Java, with Oracle at the wheel, is not going anywhere. They've added closures in 8, big deal.

C# is centuries ahead of Java 8, and with even more to come faster. And I'm saying that as an old Java dev (for 8 years up until 2008 or so) who have only dabbled in C#.

Re: Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

#85

So, what exactly is .NET? As a non-corporate Mac user, I'd like to know.

It is like the Java runtime, but started afresh with all of Java's learned lessons taken into account (although Java with 7 and 8 in particular is catching up). Up until now however it has only ran on Windows which was its biggest "downside" Vs. Java which runs on many platforms.

> started afresh with all of Java's learned lessons taken into account

I don't think that's really historically accurate. Java and C# were pretty similar back in 2002. The .NET team was more willing to add complexity and occasionally make breaking changes, like generics in CLR 2.0.

Re: Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

#86
post #23
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Windows and .NET are different things. I'm fairly confident being able to run .NET on unix machines won't affect you very much so you can stay a happy Linux User. Also, times are changing man, for the better. Embrace it.

The only part which scares me is that people will start making Linux apps using dotnet technologies. >Also, times are changing man, for the better. Embrace it Yup. That is why MS had to realize that *nix is eclipsing it in cloud and to grab extra some extra pennies out of our pockets, they are releasing their products on these platform just to fool us that they care. Actually they don't care us at all.

"Will start making apps using dotnet technologies"

Like Tomboy [1]

Or Banshee [2]

Or F-Spot [3]

Man.. That would suck. We're so happy that no one created Linux apps using .Net technology - like - 10 years ago.

1: https://git.gnome.org/browse/tomboy/commit/?id=9cc88c78834f1...

2: https://git.gnome.org/browse/banshee/commit/?id=1547f9414005...

3: https://git.gnome.org/browse/f-spot/commit/?id=8cde63b4136f8...

Re: Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

#87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is like the Java runtime, but started afresh with all of Java's learned lessons taken into account (although Java with 7 and 8 in particular is catching up). Up until now however it has only ran on Windows which was its biggest "downside" Vs. Java which runs on many platforms.

So, why would a Mac user develop in it, instead of in a Windows (virtual) machine? How would .NET compare to Apple's native environment? I guess the whole point is to write cross-platform code, but is the .NET environment that much better than Swift/Xcode? I mean, Java never really caught on with the Mac user base.

> I guess the whole point is to write cross-platform code, but is the .NET environment that much better than Swift/Xcode?

You said it all. The whole point is cross platform development.

People use Swift to develop apps for Apple products. Before Dot.net was made open source, people only used it to develop for Microsoft platforms.

The fact Dot.net is now crossplatform makes it possible for GNU/Linux and Mac users to consider it for development.

Re: Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

#88
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is like the Java runtime, but started afresh with all of Java's learned lessons taken into account (although Java with 7 and 8 in particular is catching up). Up until now however it has only ran on Windows which was its biggest "downside" Vs. Java which runs on many platforms.

The JVM is much more sophisticated than the CLR. Its GCs and JIT are many, many years ahead of the CLR's.

I'll just direct you to the first reply on Stackoverflow here: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/453610/javas-virtual-mac...

Re: Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

#89
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is like the Java runtime, but started afresh with all of Java's learned lessons taken into account (although Java with 7 and 8 in particular is catching up). Up until now however it has only ran on Windows which was its biggest "downside" Vs. Java which runs on many platforms.

The JVM is much more sophisticated than the CLR. Its GCs and JIT are many, many years ahead of the CLR's.

[deleted]

Re: Microsoft Launches Its .NET Distribution for Linux and Mac

#90
post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would be hilarious if it became easier to install .NET on Linux than it is to install Java.

Or easier to install .NET on linux that it is on Windows for that matter...

How? Recent version of Windows come with recent versions of .Net out of the box. How would you 'win' here?

The core clr is supposed to be bundled as far as I understand, so it'll be just another dependency of your application: You don't even NEED to install .Net (on the system/system-wide) anymore.

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