I am by no means flaming VS(I have used it since the original Beta 1 came out) but I did want to clarify a few things.
VS.NET does use XML as you mentioned; however the XML that it uses for project files is in MSBuild format(In VS 2005)... which is proprietary. I am sure that this format/schema, like their previous formats/schemas is protected the same way that OfficeML and others were.
Also, to add to your ECMA spec reference; IL(Or as Microsoft calls it MSIL) itself will of course match and implement the *entire* ECMA spec and CLS compliancy. C#, MS's 'flagship' does not have all of the capabilities defined in the spec and is a proprietary implementation. Seriously; decompile it and write your own home-grown version and call it NotC# -- watch how quickly you will be contacted by an MS lawyer.
The concept of ECMA, CLS, CLR, etc... is awesome; and I am thinking that this is what you may have meant to refer to. This is non-proprietary.
Anyhow, VS 2005 is by far one of the best tools that I have used to develop in. Microsoft(Like them or not) have done a fine job with it. My only real complaint is that the framework and the IDE need to be separated.
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I am by no means flaming VS(I have used it since the original Beta 1 came out) but I did want to clarify a few things.
... is awesome; and I am thinking that this is what you may have meant to refer to. This is non-proprietary.
VS.NET does use XML as you mentioned; however the XML that it uses for project files is in MSBuild format(In VS 2005)... which is proprietary. I am sure that this format/schema, like their previous formats/schemas is protected the same way that OfficeML and others were.
Also, to add to your ECMA spec reference; IL(Or as Microsoft calls it MSIL) itself will of course match and implement the *entire* ECMA spec and CLS compliancy. C#, MS's 'flagship' does not have all of the capabilities defined in the spec and is a proprietary implementation. Seriously; decompile it and write your own home-grown version and call it NotC# -- watch how quickly you will be contacted by an MS lawyer.
The concept of ECMA, CLS, CLR, etc
Anyhow, VS 2005 is by far one of the best tools that I have used to develop in. Microsoft(Like them or not) have done a fine job with it. My only real complaint is that the framework and the IDE need to be separated.