Making an exe that doesn't need .NET framework

[ofiras]

Hi,
I never understood how can it be that most programs don't ask me to
install .NET, although I know that many companies use C#. Is there any
way to make an exe of a C# program that doesn't need .NET to be
installed? If so, how can I do it?
Thanks,
Ofir.

 

[Larry Smith]

I never understood how can it be that most programs don't ask me to

install .NET, although I know that many companies use C#. Is there any
way to make an exe of a C# program that doesn't need .NET to be
installed? If so, how can I do it?

You (effectively) can't. While C# is a generic language and doesn't
technically require .NET, it does require a host platform that provides the
same functionality. You can read about this in the official C# standard and
other sources. Search for ISO/IEC 23270, "CLI, "CLR", "CLS", etc. For all
intents and purposes however .NET is really the only game in town (on
Windows anyway - you can read about the Mono project and others however). If
an installation program isn't asking you to install it then it either
assumes it's already installed (very good chance these days), will be
installed (manually), or it's specifically checking that it's installed
(note BTW that it's shipped with the latest MSFT OSs but may not be
installed by default - it can be installed using the "control panel"
however). In any case, you can't run your program without it, even if you
find "tricks" that rely on it indirectly. You might find "ngen.exe"
interesting for instance but all this does is JIT-compile your code up
front.

 

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

Hi,
I never understood how can it be that most programs don't ask me to
install .NET,

Because either they do not use .NET at all (most of the time) or you
already have the framework.

although I know that many companies use C#. Is there any
way to make an exe of a C# program that doesn't need .NET to be
installed? If so, how can I do it?
Thanks,
Ofir.

I think it can be done, I would not suggest it though, you will end
with a BIG .exe to start with

 

[ofiras]

Because either they do not use .NET at all (most of the time) or you
already have the framework.


I think it can be done, I would not suggest it though, you will end
with a BIG .exe to start with

So is there a way to make it work witout .NET? maby if I add the dll
files to the exe folder? (If can be done as I said, how do I do it?)
Thanks,
Ofir.

 

[pudchuck]

So is there a way to make it work witout .NET? maby if I add the dll
files to the exe folder? (If can be done as I said, how do I do it?)
Thanks,
Ofir.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I doubt this would work. There are many supporting elements for .NET
assemblies (GAC, CAS, etc.) I can't imagine a .NET assembly
functioning without this infrastructure. I would love you to prove me
wrong however, just as long as you shared your secret.

What version of the .NET Framework are you targeting? I have some
applications that run on .NET 1.1 and 2.0 while others require .NET
3.5 SP1. I've obviously had less trouble deploying applications that
use older versions of the .NET framework since they have been included
with the Windows OS for quite some time.

 

[Larry Smith]

Is there any way to make an exe of a C# program that doesn't need .NET

http://www.xenocode.com/Products/Postbuild-for-NET/?gclid=CNLlyt2tgpsCFZQU4wod1GPVsg

Why you would want to, though, is another question...

You wouldn't. Hence the reason I used the word "effectively" (perhaps a poor
choice of words). While it technically can be done using a 3rd-party product
like the one you cited (compiling your managed app into native code ahead of
time), this is no longer a .NET app on the client's machine anymore (which
is what the op was presumably asking about). It's also risky IMO so I agree
with your original comment. It's a "complete waste of time and money".

 

[ofiras]

You (effectively) can't. While C# is a generic language and doesn't
technically require .NET, it does require a host platform that provides the
same functionality. You can read about this in the official C# standard and
other sources. Search for ISO/IEC 23270, "CLI, "CLR", "CLS", etc. For all
intents and purposes however .NET is really the only game in town (on
Windows anyway - you can read about the Mono project and others however).If
an installation program isn't asking you to install it then it either
assumes it's already installed (very good chance these days), will be
installed (manually), or it's specifically checking that it's installed
(note BTW that it's shipped with the latest MSFT OSs but may not be
installed by default - it can be installed using the "control panel"
however). In any case, you can't run your program without it, even if you
find "tricks" that rely on it indirectly. You might find "ngen.exe"
interesting for instance but all this does is JIT-compile your code up
front.

Ok. Actually I just needed it so other people that use my program
won't have to install .NET (from what I saw, most people don't have
it)
Thanks,
Ofir.

 

[John]

That's completely incorrect.

The vast majority of Windows XP and Vista installations already include at
least one version of the .NET Framework...

To clarify:

Windows XP does *not* include the .NET Framework. It is
true that a substantial number of XP installations have a version
of .NET installed for one reason or another. I am not sure if
the total qualifies as vast majority or not.

It is a common myth that .NET is installed with one of the service
packs for XP (SP2, SP3)--it is not.

It is a common myth that .NET is installed automatically as part
of a Critical or High Priority Automatic Update to XP--it is not.

There may be some OEMs that include .NET as part of their
standard XP image, however, I am not able to verify that at the
moment. It is logical since some third-party software that OEMs
load need .NET to run.

One interesting anecdote. I recently purchased a Samsung
netbook with XP Home SP3 pre-installed. No .NET.

If you have MSDN or similar you may want to download
one of the XP install images as an experiment. Load it in
a VM, and notice that there is no .NET framework.

J

 

[jk]

For those who are interested:

http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/arch...rk-is-included-in-what-version-of-the-os.aspx

 

[Jeff Johnson]

The only .NET language that doesn't need the .NET Framework to execute is
C++ .NET.

And then only if you're writing unmanaged code, right?

 

[Cor Ligthert[MVP]]

Because of the same reason they never ask you to install a video driver.

Cor

 

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

I doubt this would work. There are many supporting elements for .NET
assemblies (GAC, CAS, etc.) I can't imagine a .NET assembly
functioning without this infrastructure. I would love you to prove me
wrong however, just as long as you shared your secret.

It can be done, all you need is to compile it natively (as well as ALL
the supporting assemblies), there are products for that, I do not know
how reliable they are though.

 

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

To clarify:

Windows XP does *not* include the .NET Framework.  It is
true that a substantial number of XP installations have a version
of .NET installed for one reason or another.  I am not sure if
the total qualifies as vast majority or not.

It is a common myth that .NET is installed with one of the service
packs for XP (SP2, SP3)--it is not.

I was under the impression that the SP2 included the 2.0 framework

 

[Mr. Arnold]

And then only if you're writing unmanaged code, right?

That's correct.


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[Jon]

If you like the convenience and simplicity of coding in C# but don't want to use .NET, the way to go
might be to use something like Delphi.



Hi,
I never understood how can it be that most programs don't ask me to
install .NET, although I know that many companies use C#. Is there any
way to make an exe of a C# program that doesn't need .NET to be
installed? If so, how can I do it?
Thanks,
Ofir.