[Mono-winforms-list] Using Windows Forms over Linux

Carlos Alberto Cortez calberto.cortez at gmail.com
Wed Nov 18 12:39:44 EST 2009


Hey,

There are some limitations on our implementation of Windows.Forms, just as
any other re-implementation can have. We provide it however, to let
developers to bring their applications from .net to linux with Mono.

Now: if you are going to create a new app, then you can go with Gtk#, and
that's a different story, with its own advantages/disadvantages.

Carlos.

2009/11/18 StApostol <stapostol at gmail.com>

> Frankly, the best way to create a cross-platform GUI is to use GTK# from
> the beginning. With WinForms, you'll encounter several issues that will make
> things rather difficult down the road: flaky databinding, slow rendering
> (especially for grid views), inconsistent rendering between versions,
> inconsistent ordering of events (quite, eh, fun to debug), lack of theming.
>
> By far the best solution is to abstract the GUI away from the main
> application and use different technologies for different platforms (e.g. WPF
> on Windows, GTK# on Linux and Mac OS X). However, this takes a lot of
> resources and planning to implement correctly.
>
> The second best option is to use GTK# all the way. You'll trade some of the
> "native" look and feel for easier development (see e.g. MonoDevelop on
> Windows).
>
> The third option is to use WinForms everywhere, keeping in mind the caveats
> I mentioned. WinForms is not meant for cross-platform development - it has
> no native look and feel (unless you create custom widgets for everything,
> which is certainly an option) and it is painful even on Windows (try using
> native Vista fonts, for example or creating a DPI-independent GUI - that's
> right, you can't really do that). Finally, it's a pretty much dead
> technology that hasn't been updated in the last 5 years. (Yes, there are
> still good reasons for using it, as long as you keep the drawbacks in mind).
>
> Finally, it might be worth checking out Silverlight/Moonlight. These have a
> pretty nice development environment and can be used both online and offline
> (with a little work).
>
> My 2cc :)
>
> 2009/11/18 Petit Eric <surfzoid at gmail.com>
>
> 2009/11/18 Dimitris Karantonis <dkarantonis at soft4real.com>:
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > This is an interesting solution, but does it actually works? And what
>> about
>> > maintenance through the application's lifecycle? Meaning, how do you
>> handle
>> > situations when you want to add a new event?
>> It work, i don't really practice it for professional, most for hobbies.
>> I often hack by the hand the .Designer.cs file, rather restart a VM.
>>
>> >
>> > Does Mono opens Visual Studio solutions and furthermore, does it compile
>> > Window Forms properties like anchoring, docking, etc...
>> Compile is most good
>> >
>> > What about installing Win Forms Designer kit on your MonoProject IDE?
>> Have
>> > you ever thought of this?
>> I would like a winforms designer in MonoDevelop, Ivanz started working
>> on it but ....
>> http://www.mono-project.com/WinForms_Designer
>> http://www.mono-project.com/WinForms
>> http://www.mono-project.com/Guide:_Porting_Winforms_Applications
>> http://www.mono-project.com/Category:WinForms
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> > Dimitris
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Petit Eric [mailto:surfzoid at gmail.com]
>> > Sent: Τετάρτη, 18 Νοεμβρίου 2009 12:28
>> > To: Dimitris Karantonis
>> > Cc: Mono-winforms-list at lists.ximian.com
>> > Subject: Re: [Mono-winforms-list] Using Windows Forms over Linux
>> >
>> > To write MonoOSC, i used VS C# express to design my winforms and
>> generate
>> > needed event (through an VBox machine) and then i wrote all code/class
>> with
>> > MonoDevelop under Linux :-)
>> >
>> > 2009/11/18 Dimitris Karantonis <dkarantonis at soft4real.com>:
>> >> Hi to all,
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> I am new to .net development over Linux platforms (I have always used
>> >> MS Visual Studio platform) and I would like to ask what is the best
>> >> way of implementing a Window Forms application in order to be able to
>> >> deploy it on both Windows and Linux OS.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> 1)      Should i use MS visual Studio 2008 on my Windows Machine to
>> >> develop the application and then use some tool in order to migrate
>> >> the application to the Mono format?
>> >>
>> >> 2)      Should i use a Mono plug-in for the MS Visual Studio platform
>> >> and develop the application?
>> >>
>> >> 3)      Should I use MonoDevelop on my Linux machine and install the
>> >> Win Forms Designer toolkit?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Could you give me some advices concerning what is the best way to
>> >> follow and some instructions of how to implement it (meaning,
>> >> instructions of how to install and use the Visual Studio - Mono
>> >> migration tool, the Mono plug-in for VS Studio and the Win Forms
>> Designer
>> > toolkit on MonoDevelop.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Best regards,
>> >>
>> >> Dimitris
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Mono-winforms-list maillist  -  Mono-winforms-list at lists.ximian.com
>> >> http://lists.ximian.com/mailman/listinfo/mono-winforms-list
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> >  Cordially.
>> >
>> >  Small Eric Quotations of the days:
>> >
>>  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >  I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>  Cordially.
>>
>>  Small Eric Quotations of the days:
>>
>>  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>  I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious
>> _______________________________________________
>> Mono-winforms-list maillist  -  Mono-winforms-list at lists.ximian.com
>> http://lists.ximian.com/mailman/listinfo/mono-winforms-list
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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