Microsoft Dot Net or Linux and Open-Source

[jerjim]

First of all, Hi to everyone who reads this and thanks in advance if you can offer me any advice:

I have not been active in programming for the past four years. But when I was programming, the last language I mastered was Microsoft VB6 accessing a Microsoft Access database. Before that, I programmed in Cobol (on minicomputers), then on the first micros, including the IBM PC, dBASE II, III, Clipper and FoxPro. Then VB5 and as I mentioned, VB6. I was also deep into studying Java and also had a crack at programming Internet applications using JavaScript.

Now, I have the opportunity to again develop applications. But my question is in what language or internet technology should I invest my time and effort? Should I go Linux and all those other open-source technologies (of which I know nothing about)? Or should I go into Microsoft's dot net technologies? C-Sharp (which I find very elegant and appealing), ASP.NET and all that other stuff.

Because of my familiarity with previous Microsoft technologies, my gut feel is to go dot net. But then again, I don't want one company or one technology to dominate the computing landscape. Microsoft technologies also cost a bundle and I feel whether rightly or wrongly that what they charge overgrossly compensates their development, marketing, distribution and whatever costs. Honestly thought, I find the dot net technologies very impressive.

 

[obislavu]

Honestly thought, I find the dot net technologies very impressive.".
That is right.
“I was also deep into studying Java” – easy to move to C#.
From VB6 you can also move to VB.NET but you will embrace C#.
In .NET , under Common Language Run Time (CLR) the language (C# ,VB.NET, C++.NET ...) is not important because at the end, managed code is translated in the same MSIL code.
My suggestion is to jump in .NET technology, more precise in ASP.NET and C# /VB.NET.
-obislavu-

 

[jerjim]

Dear obislavu:

So basically because the dot net technologies are very impressive (which implies much more than Linux and Open Source), more people would be using dot net technologies therefore resulting in a bigger customer base. That seems to be the gist of your reply.

jerry (jerjim)

 

[obislavu]

The .NET initiative is a BIG step for Microsoft.
It is the future of applications development on Windows.
The new development environment is much modern, and it provides many more services. For instance, with the built-in support for Web services, whole new classes of applications can be created. Ultimate goal: producing the best possible software in the least amount of time.
.NET comes at the price of substantial changes.
Windows developers must learn many new languages features, at least parts of a large new standard library and various new concepts. A large chunk of their existing knowledge is no longer useful. For example, COM is not used in the .NET Framework, except for interoperability with existing applications. So, detailed COM knowledge that many Microsoft oriented software professional have paintfully acquired is not needed to build .NET Framework-based applications.
Knowing how to use existing GUI technologies is much less valuable with the introduction of the .NET Framework's Windows Forms.Data access is substantially different and improved with ADO.NET.
-obislavu-

 

[tgreer]

You're making the assumption that Windows is a good platform for application development. I'm not so sure. I see the trend toward moving everything to the web accelerating, with applications either being entirely web-based, or at least having major web components.

I see a future where all business logic will be server-based, and all interface development done in markup with styles/themes applied, and validation a mish-mash of client and server-side.

In such an environment, the server platform becomes much more important then the particular OS the user might be using.

I code in C#/ASP.NET/ADO.NET, but Microsoft has already pulled the plug once (ditching COM for .NET Framework), whose to say they won't do it again? So I'm also learning PHP/mySQL and deepening my knowledge of XML, XLST, DHTML, and CSS.




Thomas D. Greer

http://www.tgreer.com

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting

 

[SgtPeppa]

You might want to take a look at

http://www.mono-project.com/about/index.html

This should give you the advantages of both worlds!

 

[phinoppix]

to complement mono, check on this too...

http://www.icsharpcode.com/

dotNet's great, but i'm still concerned about boxing and unboxing issue? I've heard about the new framework highlighting templates, but does this resolve the issue? or is this question valid?

Anyway, I still take time and interest to study open-source alternatives such as Python and Firebird coz a number of clients have started embracing open-source technologies, like Linux OS. So just to keep up with their demands...

 

[chiph]

The advent of generics in VS.NET 2005 will reduce the number of places where boxing/unboxing happens, but it can't eliminate it. It sort of comes with the object-oriented territory.

Chip H.


____________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244 first

 

[pweegar]

Who will you be developing for? What platforms are involved? Are you looking to work as a consultant or as an employee in a company? In other words, you'll probably want to look at what you need to develop and use the apprioate tools. How soon do you need to be productive? And at what skill level? (beginner, intermediate, senior?)

Unfortunetly in the world of IT technologies are always changing and evolving. What is the hot technology today could very well be outdated tomm.

Will Linux ever replace Microsoft? I doubt it. Too many business and average home user know windows. For business to switch to all linux would be a very expensive deal. Why do you think COBOL is still around? I work in a company that has approx 15,000-16,000 employees both in the US and Canada. The cost of switching to all linux would 1) be prohibitive and 2) not very easy to do as we have hardware that doesn't run under Linux (requires Windows OS).

My point is, you have to decide who you want to develop for and use the tools available for that market.