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Reasons To Use Mono For Linux Development
Nerval's Lobster writes: In the eleven years since Mono first appeared, the Linux community has regarded it with suspicion. Because Mono is basically a free, open-source implementation of Microsoft's .NET framework, some developers feared that Microsoft would eventually launch a patent war that could harm many in the open-source community. But there are some good reasons for using Mono, developer David Bolton argues in a new blog posting. Chief among them is MonoDevelop, which he claims is an excellent IDE; it's cross-platform abilities; and its utility as a game-development platform. That might not ease everybody's concerns (and some people really don't like how Xamarin has basically commercialized Mono as an iOS/Android development platform), but it's maybe enough for some people to take another look at the platform.
By this time (w/ MS deliberately contributing to Mono no less) estoppel should quash any patent claims.
Why use a Java clone instead of just using Java?
Maybe because some people prefer C# to Java? They aren't exactly the same, after all: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_C_Sharp_and_Java.
How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
True but it seems kind of ridiculous to choose an entire platform based on some minor differences in syntax.
I suppose if you're already really familiar with the Microsoft software stack, like you used to build VB apps and have already invested a great deal in Microsoft's tools it might make sense.
But otherwise, it's a smaller ecosystem with fewer libraries, fewer developers, fewer choices, fewer large scale deployments to learn from.
Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
The only reason to use Mono is really to get Windows developers onboard.
But that's a long shot. Linux works because there are plenty of developers in mentioned programming languages that support it.
Since Java isn't terribly popular in Linux, .NET has no chance.
By this time (w/ MS deliberately contributing to Mono no less) estoppel should quash any patent claims.
it's a good thing proving that in court is inexpensive and that they have a moral integrity to not use their vast army of lawyers to just bleed you until you cannot afford to defend yourself.
oh wait.
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
1. C# Is a Great Language
me: Yes it is.
2. There's a Great Free IDE: MonoDevelop
me: Finding a decent IDE is not a problem anymore. You can find something for every language.
3. Mono Supports Mobile Development
me: So does Java and Swift. Why does EVERY article out there think you have to pick just ONE language and be stuck with that choice forever???
4. Mono Is Cross-Platform
me: Python, Java, C, C++, Ruby, and many, many more are all cross-platform, too!
5. Mono Powers Games Development
me: The guy is totally right. He has some great examples, too.
Please just don't think, that you MUST use C# to get into game dev. For example, you can have much faster prototyping with PyGame. You can really learn to code in Swift over a weekend, if you have mastered one similar language well.
My advice to you is: pick any language, become good at it. Just don't do VB.NET or I will have to kill you.
Patent issues? What would Microsoft have to gain by suing someone for using their own technology? That makes about as much sense as Oracle suing a developer for using Java. It's an utterly nonsensical argument, as Microsoft is officially and releasing .NET as open source, and has indicated their support of Mono and Xamarin as well.
Personally, I feel a lot better when I understand a company's motivation. As far as I can figure, Microsoft is interested in keeping Windows relevant, and they can help do this by ensuring developers can use Windows as a development springboard for targeting other platforms. This keeps those developers in the Microsoft ecosystem, even if they have to acknowledge that fewer people are living in a Windows-only world - *especially* in mobile. The alternative would be that developers would have to turn to other development tools on other platforms, and they might find another cross platform solution that leaves Windows as an "also-ran", marginalizing it as a development platform, which in turn might lead to the erosion of Windows as a *user* platform.
Microsoft has always been fairly smart about courting developers with excellent tools and development platforms, and making it quite easy to build applications for Windows. As far as I can tell, this is no different - it's just that Microsoft has finally acknowledged that open source and multi-platform development is critical in today's world, and they're going their best now to play catch-up in this field. This doesn't suddenly make them nice guys, but it's not in their business interest to start attacking developers - the people that they're actively trying to court with these latest strategies.
Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.