How many PCs are running dot net framework?

[baylandpark]

I've written Windows shareware applications using MFC for several
years. Now I'm standing at the point to choose a language and platform
for a new small application much less than 1MB of footprint. Microsoft
seems to recommend .NET framework and C#. Also personally, I'd like to
try C#.

However, two issues remain to be resolved.

1. If C# is used, .NET framework would be prerequisite. But I'm not so
sure if my customers would be willing to install .NET framework to use
my small application. Is there any online stuff to show how many copies
of .NET framework are installed in the Windows machines.

2. This application should have substantial performance. I'm not so
interested in the results of performance test(.NET code vs. native
code). So many popular applications would have been written in .NET
languages if its overhead is negligible when compared with native
applications. But I was wondering what is the most popular .NET
application.

Thanks for your advices.

Scott.

 

[Rob R. Ainscough]

Pick the language you are most comfortable with.

VS.2005 is coming (we hope) so don't get too used to whatever you do now

C# has some minor advances over VB -- I prefer VB because it is easier for
me to read/maintain -- there is no performance difference between the two

If performance is your goal, don't bother with .NET at all. C++ can be used
with .NET and it would give you the most options. MFC is not exactly the
best way to go for performance either, but it depends what your app does.

..NET framework will be included in all future MS operating systems, but .NET
framework is huge and can cause all kinds of issues when users install it so
I can understand you hesitation.

Technically a managed .NET app can have a tiny tiny tiny footprint and has
Xcopy capability (no need for installation packages, just copy to dir) -- I
have a large project who's combined footprint is <600KB (that includes my
core library/DLLs)

 

[Dave]

1. If C# is used, .NET framework would be prerequisite. But I'm not so

sure if my customers would be willing to install .NET framework to use
my small application. Is there any online stuff to show how many copies
of .NET framework are installed in the Windows machines.

I'd like that information too however I'm not sure if it's available. For peace of mind just realize that new computers seem to be
shipping with the framework installed (DELL, for instance), .NET is tied into new versions of Windows such as longhorn and the
installation package for the framework is small (I guess as small as they could make it to encourage downloads. Also, Windows
Update offers it if I remember correctly.

2. This application should have substantial performance. I'm not so
interested in the results of performance test(.NET code vs. native
code). So many popular applications would have been written in .NET
languages if its overhead is negligible when compared with native
applications. But I was wondering what is the most popular .NET
application.

The most popular .NET application, I'd imagine, is probably VS.NET. Also, I'm assuming parts of MSN Messenger were also written in
..NET since it displays the .NET logo. There's over 100 billion (figuratively speaking) .NET utilities and apps floating around the
web. Everywhere you look now, .NET.

I'd recommend using C# just because you said you were interested in trying it. The benefits of managed code, the C# language, CAS,
much better development tools, wide-spread support and future Windows integration should be reason enough.

Hope it helps

 

[baylandpark]

Thanks for your advices.

Is .NET installed automatically by recent Windows updates, e.g. XP SP2?
Otherwise, it would take so long to wait for longhorn to replace
previous Windows. According to google web
page(http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist/zeitgeist-jun04.html),
Windows XP was just 51% in June 2004. Amazingly Windows 98 was 16% at
that time. For the applications using proprietary network protocols, it
is more serious.

At this time, I'm not so interested in web application. How can I check
if any application is written or running based on .NET platform?

Unless .NET is used so widely, it seems better to stick to native code
even not to narrow down the potential customers.
Is it possible to compile C# code as native executables which don't use
..NET platform, so that I can provide both types of executables, .NET
and native, with one source code development.

Thank you

Scott

 

[Guest]

Scott is asking a question that has been on my mind as well. Has .NET
reached the mainstream for client applications like it has for ASP code?

I am completely on board with the power of C# and the framework but I just
don't see any enterprise or consumer applications that require .NET out there
yet and Microsoft is not widely distributing the runtime (via a SP). It may
be that 2.0 in coming and that will go mainstream but I am looking at a UI
overhaul that needs to run on XP and I don't want to get too far ahead of the
curve here.

Are their mainstream apps using .NET today?

From reading other posts it sounds like there are no committments yet for
wide distribution of the .NET Runtime.

Last question: Are the new UI tools in Longhorn (Avalon and things like
XAML) based on .NET UI tools like WinForms?

Many thanks

Ken