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Mono Comes To Android

Posted by samzenpus on from the here-have-some dept.

hairyfeet writes "After releasing Monotouch for iPhone which allows c# development on iOS, Novell has announced the availability of Mono for Android. Will this give us the 'one language to rule them all' that Java failed to bring, or will the bad blood between the F/OSS groups and Microsoft make this a dead end?"

4 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. Neither by node+3 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Will this give us the 'one language to rule them all' that Java failed to bring, or will the bad blood between the F/OSS groups and Microsoft make this a dead end?

    Neither. It will be exactly what it already is today, just one of many programming languages.

    1. Re:Neither by jrumney · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How long did it take Microsoft to start wiping the floor with their VFAT patents? Note the "at any point it feels like" in the GP's statement.

  2. Re:Worst /. article ever? by SplashMyBandit · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Actually, it is *terrible* design to use more than one language if you don't have to. Sure, for small, short-lived projects you can mix and match tools, but for huge, long-lived projects you need to be able to replace people quickly (with large numbers of people then staff turnover is inevitable for a multitude of reasons). Having extra languages is a negative with respect to this. This is why the relative simplicity of Java is viewed favorably in the Enterprise and more complex and obscure alternatives (which may actually be better fits for the purpose) are avoided.

    With regard to your "find an excuse to not hang out with after work" comment. Actually, it are pseudo-academic language snobs who are avoided. The kind who love adding layer upon layer of complexity (including switching languages and tools all over the place), and take pride in their l337 skills for doing this. They can be great developers but are shitty *designers* (too bad they're usually so clueless at design they never even see or consider this aspect). Remember, great design is about *removing* stuff. As Einstein said, "As simple as possible, but no simpler" [note: this is actually misquote of what he actually said, but it is commonly enough used and conveys the same meaning in fewer words]. That means *fewer* languages, not more, should be preferred.

  3. Re:The nebulous danger by zzatz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Microsoft could end the patent issue once and for all by granting a royalty-free license for any and all patents needed to implement a C# runtime. They have not done so. That suggests that they reserve the right to use those patents against any competitor who becomes a large enough threat, or any one else with deep pockets.

    IBM has more patents than anyone else, yet they give patent grants in situations like this. Many companies do. Sometimes growing the market by making standards more affordable is better than protecting your share of a smaller market. Microsoft's actions speak louder than their words, and their actions come down on the side of reserving the option of shutting down the use of C# in ways that Microsoft doesn't like. You think that it's silly to fear that Microsoft would do that, I think it's silly for Microsoft to fear that someone might someday use Microsoft's C# patents to harm Microsoft.