Deployment without Framework?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stoll
  • Start date Start date
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Stoll

I am thinking of buying a copy of VB, and wanted to make sure I could make
use of it before I spend the money. Is there any way to create an
application that would work without needing the .NET framework? Or an app
that could run without itself being installed? I would like to offer some
small (mostly graphic utility) apps on the 'Net, but if the user requires
the .NET framework the software will be useless, people won't want to
download such a huge system just to run my small application.
 
I believe that anything written in VB.net will require the .Net Framework to
run--version 2.0 for applications written with VB 2005.

Things are not as they used to be. Almost everyone I deal with has a high
speed Internet connection now, so a 22 MB download does not take all that
long. I just went to Microsoft to test how long it took to download, and it
was 45 seconds on my cable connection. I think I have gotten it faster in
the past.
 
Yes it is possible to integrate parts of the CLR into your application.

However you can't do it easily. There are 3rd party tools that will do
it for you and they cost a lot (so I have heard).

The .NET framework is part of windows update and most user's should
have it by now.
If not, when you create your installer, it will provide them a quick
link to downloading it.

I use to have the same beef with needing the CLR. But I think it might
even be packaged in the next OS.

SN
 
I am thinking of buying a copy of VB, and wanted to make sure I could make
use of it before I spend the money. Is there any way to create an
application that would work without needing the .NET framework?
Click to expand...

Only with VB6 AFAIK.
 
I found this on the very same page as this thread in google groups, a
sponsored link to running .NET apps without .NET (so to speak).
http://www.xenocode.com/

I've seen this question come and go a fair few times to you will no
doubt find some comprehensive discussions on it if you just search.
(Mostly in the C# forum)

SN
 
Stoll said:
I am thinking of buying a copy of VB, and wanted to make sure I could make
use of it before I spend the money. Is there any way to create an
application that would work without needing the .NET framework? Or an app
that could run without itself being installed? I would like to offer some
small (mostly graphic utility) apps on the 'Net, but if the user requires
the .NET framework the software will be useless, people won't want to
download such a huge system just to run my small application.
Click to expand...
Many of them will already have it, and if they don't, the download and
install is a one time thing, no matter how many .NET apps they use.
Instead of buying it, why not download a free copy of VB 2005 Express and
see how it goes?

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vb/
 
Stoll,

Your conclusion is the same as in the pre Operating System time.

..Net is just an extra layer on that.

If you want to run without OS than use an Assembler language.

Just my thought,

Cor
 
Hi Stoll,

..NET applications require the .NET Framework run-time (about 20 MB). There
are 3rd party tools that allow you to virtualize that
(http://www.thinstall.com/solutions/net_virtual.php) but maybe they are
overkill for your project.

..NET applications don´t necessarily require a setup. Since no registration
is involved, simple apps can run directly from the .exe.

Finally, something that you need to understand from the sales/downloads
point of view: not everybody has a broadband Internet connection, there are
lots of countries and lots of end users still using dialup connections (with
flat rates, but 56 Kbps dialup connections). Even if everybody had a
broadband connection, most end users don´t know what the heck the .NET
Framework is or what a run-time is. Forcing them to download (or even to
locate) separately the (localized) run-time DLLs for your app, maybe a
reboot, etc. will cause a bad first impression (there is no chance for a
second "first impression"), and it will hurt strongly your download ratio
and your sales ratio. Simply put, end users expect a single setup that runs
fast and smoothly. Period. If you distribute your app in a CD then .NET is a
suitable option for you. If the web is your only distribution medium, then
think twice about your options (VB6 has a much smaller run-time requirement,
for example). The bottom line is that end-users do not have our developer
mindset...

--

Best regards,

Carlos J. Quintero

MZ-Tools: Productivity add-ins for Visual Studio
You can code, design and document much faster:
http://www.mztools.com
 
Stoll said:
Is there any way to create an application that would work without
needing the .NET framework?
Click to expand...

Not with VB.NET, C#, C++/CLI, etc. However, you can use classic VC++ to
create applications which do not depend on the .NET Framework.
Or an app that could run without itself being installed?
Click to expand...

Only if the .NET Framework is installed on the target machine.
 
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