How many computers can execute .NET code

[Martijn Mulder]

Hi group,

It is tempting to jump into .NET programming, especially C# in my case. But
I have no idea what the realm is of code based on the CLR. Please inform me
of the following:

-what versions of Windows can execute .NET code?
-can I deliver dll-files to older Windows versions? (ME, 2000, 98) so as to
run .NET code?
-what percentage of today's software is written using the .NET architecture?
-will .NET code be accessible for Apple users or Linux users in the future?
-can I invoke simple switches on my VC++ version 8 compiler (Visual Studio
Express Edition 2003) to change from .NET code to native win32 machine code?

I do understand that Microsoft invests a lot in .NET and that it will have
an important impact on future programming, but I have to decide this week
what platform to use for my small desktop application. I am targeting a
broad audience with perhaps older computers.

Thank you for your time!

 

[Mehdi]

-what versions of Windows can execute .NET code?

Everything is on the Microsoft Web Site.
Requirements for .NET 1.1:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...e3-f589-4842-8157-034d1e7cf3a3&displaylang=en

Requirements for .NET 2.0:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...cb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en

-can I deliver dll-files to older Windows versions? (ME, 2000, 98) so as to
run .NET code?

You can redistribute the .NET Fx Runtime setup program with your
application. Alternatively, users can download it from the Microsoft web
site or via Windows Update.

-what percentage of today's software is written using the .NET architecture?

I doubt that there are any statistics for that

-will .NET code be accessible for Apple users or Linux users in the future?

It's unlikely that MS will port the .NET Framework to other OS (although it
will port a reduced version of WPF to MacOS X but that's a different
story). There is a Novell sponsored open source project aiming at porting
the .NET Fx to other OS, the Mono project:
http://www.mono-project.com/Main_Page

If you intend to develop cross-plateform applications though, i would
advise *against* .NET for the moment unless you have carefully evaluated
Mono and are sure that it will have all the features you'll need.

-can I invoke simple switches on my VC++ version 8 compiler (Visual Studio
Express Edition 2003) to change from .NET code to native win32 machine code?

Yes but, obvioulsy, if your code contains .NET specific classes or syntax
it won't coompile if you tell the compiler to treat it as unmanaged Win32
code. The compiler won't automagically transform .NET managed C++ code into
unmanaged Win32 C++ code.

 

[Kevin Spencer]

-what versions of Windows can execute .NET code?

..Net managed applications depend upon the .Net Framework. The .Net Framework
is free from Microsoft, and can be installed on any Windows operating
system, starting with Windows 2000, but not prior to.

-can I deliver dll-files to older Windows versions? (ME, 2000, 98) so as
to run .NET code?

See my answer to number 1.

-what percentage of today's software is written using the .NET
architecture?

That would be impossible to answer. .Net applications can only run on
Windows at present, although there are versions being developed for other
Operating Systems, such as the Mono project. .Net software is quite popular,
and many software companies are producing .Net versions of their software.

-will .NET code be accessible for Apple users or Linux users in the
future?

See my previous answer (Mono)

-can I invoke simple switches on my VC++ version 8 compiler (Visual Studio
Express Edition 2003) to change from .NET code to native win32 machine
code?

Not exactly. But there are utilities that can convert .Net to native machine
code.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Professional Numbskull

Show me your certification without works,
and I'll show my certification
*by* my works.

 

[Nick Hounsome]

[cut]

Not exactly. But there are utilities that can convert .Net to native
machine code.

But note that it will still depend on the .NET framework (which is ngen'd on
installation) hence the OS restrictions still apply.

 

[Mehdi]

.Net managed applications depend upon the .Net Framework. The .Net Framework
is free from Microsoft, and can be installed on any Windows operating
system, starting with Windows 2000, but not prior to.

The .NET Framework is supported under Windows 98, Me and in the case of
..NET 1.0 and 1.1, under Windows NT 4 sp6 as well.

 

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

HI,

Hi group,

It is tempting to jump into .NET programming, especially C# in my case.
But I have no idea what the realm is of code based on the CLR. Please
inform me of the following:

-what versions of Windows can execute .NET code?

From 98 and up (at least 1.1 ), but some features like FileSystemWatcher
are not available in win9X

-can I deliver dll-files to older Windows versions? (ME, 2000, 98) so as
to run .NET code?
Yes

-what percentage of today's software is written using the .NET
architecture?

No idea, but IMO it's widely use in intranet apps. I haven't see that many
commercial apps, not even from MS

-will .NET code be accessible for Apple users or Linux users in the
future?

It's accesible now, see MONO

-can I invoke simple switches on my VC++ version 8 compiler (Visual Studio
Express Edition 2003) to change from .NET code to native win32 machine
code?

You can use unmanaged code, you can use something called P/invoke

 

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Hi,

.Net managed applications depend upon the .Net Framework. The .Net
Framework is free from Microsoft, and can be installed on any Windows
operating system, starting with Windows 2000, but not prior to.

At least 1.1 can be run in win9X not sure about 95 though. But I did run a
couple of apps in 9X for a while

 

[Kevin Spencer]

At least 1.1 can be run in win9X not sure about 95 though. But I did run

a couple of apps in 9X for a while

I believe you, but I was going by the recommendations posted on the
Microsoft web site. As someone else pointed out, there are a number of
features that are lost in doing so.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Professional Numbskull

Show me your certification without works,
and I'll show my certification
*by* my works.

 

[Michael A. Covington]

My understanding is that .NET Framework can be installed under Windows 98
and ME (not 95).

Someone else said Windows 2000 and up. I wonder if .NET 1.0 and 2.0 are
different in that regard.

 

[Kevin Spencer]

Someone else said Windows 2000 and up. I wonder if .NET 1.0 and 2.0 are

different in that regard.

That was me. And now that you mention it, I may have been looking at the
..Net 2.0 requirements. I haven't worked much with 1.1 for about a year now.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Professional Numbskull

Show me your certification without works,
and I'll show my certification
*by* my works.