"It is dangerous to depend on C#, so we need to discourage its use"

[Brad Jones]

"It is dangerous to depend on C#, so we need to discourage its use."

This is a quote by Richard Stallman in an article (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10276101-83.html?tag=nl.e757) on cnet news about the use of Mono. The issue comes down to the idea that Microsoft could enforce patents at some point against the use of C#.

I wonder if Bell Labs could enforce patents or anything against C++. Could Sun (or Oracle if they get to take over Sun) do the same with Java?

Maybe it is just that open source is only good and viable when it is IBM doing it and not when it is Microsoft.

If we listen to Stallman, then it sounds like you need to start using Visual Basic .NET with your Mono applications!


What do you think? Should we avoid C#?




More... (http://blog.codeguru.com/blog/2009/07/it-is-dangerous-to-depend-on-c.html)

[Arjay]

All I can say is this:

"It is dangerous to read certain articles, so we need to discourage doing so"

[dglienna]

Mono isn't anywhere near 100% of even the old versions of .Net
I don't think there is anything to worry about. I doubt Microsoft worries about people cross-compiling apps.

I wonder if Mono apps compile under VS? I'd bet there is just as much work in each case.

[Brad Jones]

Mono isn't anywhere near 100% of even the old versions of .Net
I don't think there is anything to worry about. I doubt Microsoft worries about people cross-compiling apps.

I wonder if Mono apps compile under VS? I'd bet there is just as much work in each case.

Have you actually used Mono? I've not used the newer releases, but it was coming along quite nicely.

[memeloo]

I'm surprised that the linux/unix community is trying to "copy" microsoft, I thougt they hate it and are trying to make something different at all costs even if it's not user friednly etc. like linux itself ;]

microsoft don't have to enforce any patents, the linux community will make something unuseful anyway ;] I'm optimistic, the mono project will be of no use

[laserlight]

This is a quote by Richard Stallman in an article on cnet news about the use of Mono. The issue comes down to the idea that Microsoft could enforce patents at some point against the use of C#.

I wonder if Bell Labs could enforce patents or anything against C++. Could Sun (or Oracle if they get to take over Sun) do the same with Java?
From what I understand, as part of the standardisation process, Microsoft would not be able to enforce patent claims other than by licensing for a reasonable fee. This would be consistent with the article's quote of de Icaza's statement that they will "continue to keep the Microsoft and Mono stacks separated". This is presumably the same deal with standard C++, but Java has not been standardised, though the fact that Sun's Java implementation is Free Software presumably does much to assuage Stallman's objections. That said, a "reasonable fee" is likely to be unacceptable in the context of Free Software, which is often available at zero price.

[boudino]

What do you think? Should we avoid C#?

Definitelly. It is very dangerous - it works ;)

Seriouslly: I don"t understood the point. It seems to me more like ideology than a technology question. I think that we (=developers) should avoid such a approach.

[binyo66]

I am trying to avoid anything that is not standard, especially from MS. We had been doing a lot of thing using MS. Fortran Power Station for more than 6 years (and using microsoft specifit fortran), of course combining with C/C++, and suddenly MS stop supporting fortran after MS Dev. 4.2b release, worst MS Developer Studio 6.0 was not compatible at all, either we had to use 6.0 and remove all fortran, or keep staying with 4.2b which didnt fully support template yet. We decided to stay with 4.2b.
Except it was really necessary in whatever reason (usually the only reason is time target) to use non-standard from MS (or any other companies), then we try to use the standard one. I learnt the hard way :(. I am 100% agree with boudino :d.