comComparing the free .NET implementations Mono and DotGNU
LOTS OF DOTS
The Open Source projects Mono and DotGNU open Microsoft’s .NET platform to Linux developers. This article investigates how well-suited these alternative implementations are for building simple GUI applications.
In 2002, Microsoft launched a new system for platform-independent development that they dubbed .NET (pronounced “Dotnet”). The .NET pro-ject aims to simplify the development of network and Internet applications. It supports object oriented programming and comes with a unique class library suitable for use with multiple programming languages, such as C# and VB .NET for example. In the course of launching .NET, Microsoft has discontinued support for its previous favorite, the MFC library for Visual C++. All future Microsoft products will be based on the new technology. Free .NET? Despite the platform-independent approach of the .NET framework, Microsoft is highly unlikely to release a Linux implementation, and this lack of Linux support has prompted two projects to step into the gap: Novell’s sponsored Mono project [1] and the open source DotGNU [2] project. Both Mono and DotGNU are aiming to provide as complete an implementation of the .NET platform as possible. The goal of both projects is to allow developers to exchange software across operating system boundaries.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you've found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
The GNU Project Celebrates Its 40th Birthday
September 27 marks the 40th anniversary of the GNU Project, and it was celebrated with a hacker meeting in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.
-
Linux Kernel Reducing Long-Term Support
LTS support for the Linux kernel is about to undergo some serious changes that will have a considerable impact on the future.
-
Fedora 39 Beta Now Available for Testing
For fans and users of Fedora Linux, the first beta of release 39 is now available, which is a minor upgrade but does include GNOME 45.
-
Fedora Linux 40 to Drop X11 for KDE Plasma
When Fedora 40 arrives in 2024, there will be a few big changes coming, especially for the KDE Plasma option.
-
Real-Time Ubuntu Available in AWS Marketplace
Anyone looking for a Linux distribution for real-time processing could do a whole lot worse than Real-Time Ubuntu.
-
KSMBD Finally Reaches a Stable State
For those who've been looking forward to the first release of KSMBD, after two years it's no longer considered experimental.
-
Nitrux 3.0.0 Has Been Released
The latest version of Nitrux brings plenty of innovation and fresh apps to the table.
-
Linux From Scratch 12.0 Now Available
If you're looking to roll your own Linux distribution, the latest version of Linux From Scratch is now available with plenty of updates.
-
Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
-
UbuntuDDE 23.04 Now Available
A new version of the UbuntuDDE remix has finally arrived with all the updates from the Deepin desktop and everything that comes with the Ubuntu 23.04 base.