[Mono-list] Comparing .NET CLI implementations

[Toby DiPasquale]

Matt,

	.NET is Microsoft's new development platform, in answer to Java,
that will allow multiple languages to compile to the same bytecode, thus,
allowing execution and integration of a mixed-code environment. .NET is
the launching point for a number of other services that Microsoft wishes
to push on people, e.g. Passport (.NET My Services) and Web Services.

	Mono is an implementation of the ECMA .NET Standard, and thus
contains only a C# compiler and the supporting class libraries (as of
right now). Mono is an effort by Ximian and other Open Source developers
to allow easy multiple-language integration within Linux (and other
Open Source OS's) and GNOME.

	.GNU is a complete Free Software answer to Microsoft's .NET,
including class libraries, compilers, Secure Execution Environment
(analagous to Microsoft's CLR) and a competing SSO service, all
implemented with Free Software. .GNU aims to compete fully with all
aspects of Microsoft's .NET initiative.

	Sun ONE deserves mention in this space, since it, too seeks to
compete with .NET in some ways, most notably SSO (Liberty Alliance) and
Web Services. ONE is centered around the Java language, and has the
capability of coming into fruition much faster than .NET, due to Java's
very large installed systems base. (personal conjecture)

	The main difference here is that Mono is a development platform,
whereas with .NET, .GNU and Sun ONE, the development platform is only
the basis for a number of other programs/services they wish to distribute.
Mono and .GNU are the only efforts that have explicitly worked towards
cross-platform execution, unless you consider Rotor cross-platform... ONE
gets it for free with Java.

Hope this helps!

<< T o b i a s   D i P a s q u a l e >>
web: http://cbcg.net/
mailto: anany@ece.villanova.edu
trade: Software Engineer 
skillset: Linux/BSD/UNIX/C/Java/Ruby

On Tue, 9 Apr 2002, Matt Liotta wrote:

> I am currently work on an article comparing the different .NET CLI
> implementations. While I have a pretty good idea on what differentiates Mono
> from Microsoft's .NET, .GNU, and even Rotor, I thought I would see if the
> list wanted to contribute their own ideas.
> 
> -Matt
> 
> 
> 
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