is it interesting to develop c#/visual c# 2005 express to get a lot of customer

[david]

hello,
I have a question, I'm developping a software and I want of course
many people use it.
I chose c# visual studio 2005 express for development. is it a good
choice?
I mean, people to use it need to download framework 2.0 right? is it
included in vista or for XP in service pack? or you have to download
it, because maybe having to download framework 2.0 can make some
people give up to use the software.
I chose c# because of course you save a lot of time developping with
it, but maybe old school c++/visual c++ 6.0 still better to get e lot
of people using your software?
what do you think?
is there a way to include everything in installer (made with nsis) to
make the customer not having to download everything, maybe including
the framework 2.0, but it's around 22 mo!
is there many non-developper people having framework 2.0 installed
already?
thanks for help

 

[Peter Duniho]

I have a question, I'm developping a software and I want of course
many people use it.
I chose c# visual studio 2005 express for development. is it a good
choice?
Yes.

I mean, people to use it need to download framework 2.0 right?
Yes.

is it
included in vista or for XP in service pack?

Yes. I think XP SP2 is where .NET 2.0 shows up, but for sure it's in
Vista. You can research the specifics easily using Google and the
Microsoft web site, I'm sure.

or you have to download
it, because maybe having to download framework 2.0 can make some
people give up to use the software.

Maybe. But if that's what's standing in between you and your customers,
they must not need your software very badly.

I chose c# because of course you save a lot of time developping with
it, but maybe old school c++/visual c++ 6.0 still better to get e lot
of people using your software?

For those customers for whom installing .NET is something they refuse to
do or can't do, yes...they won't be able to use your application.

what do you think?

I think .NET Framework is great. Way better than I expected it to be when
it was first announced. Heck, when the term ".NET" first showed up, it
seemed hardly more than just a marketing buzzword. Today, it is one of
the best technologies for implementing Windows applications in some very
large proportion of cases.

There are still things you just can't do conveniently in a .NET
application, but otherwise it's the way to go IMHO. Also, you can always
connect to non-managed code, so even if all you do in the .NET part of
your application is the UI, you're way ahead of the game.

is there a way to include everything in installer (made with nsis) to
make the customer not having to download everything, maybe including
the framework 2.0, but it's around 22 mo!

You can redistribute .NET on media with your application. So if you are
distributing your application on CD, for example, just include .NET with
it and have your customer install from the CD.

But no, if your distribution is solely by download, the customer needs the
complete .NET Framework. They can't download just the parts your
application needs.

is there many non-developper people having framework 2.0 installed
already?

Yes, lots of people who are not developers already have .NET installed.
Do they represent the majority of Windows users? I doubt it. But if your
application is a compelling one, having customers install the .NET
Framework should not be a big deal.

Pete

 

[pigeonrandle]

Yes. I think XP SP2 is where .NET 2.0 shows up, but for sure it's in
Vista. You can research the specifics easily using Google and the
Microsoft web site, I'm sure.


Maybe. But if that's what's standing in between you and your customers,
they must not need your software very badly.


For those customers for whom installing .NET is something they refuse to
do or can't do, yes...they won't be able to use your application.


I think .NET Framework is great. Way better than I expected it to be when
it was first announced. Heck, when the term ".NET" first showed up, it
seemed hardly more than just a marketing buzzword. Today, it is one of
the best technologies for implementing Windows applications in some very
large proportion of cases.

There are still things you just can't do conveniently in a .NET
application, but otherwise it's the way to go IMHO. Also, you can always
connect to non-managed code, so even if all you do in the .NET part of
your application is the UI, you're way ahead of the game.


You can redistribute .NET on media with your application. So if you are
distributing your application on CD, for example, just include .NET with
it and have your customer install from the CD.

But no, if your distribution is solely by download, the customer needs the
complete .NET Framework. They can't download just the parts your
application needs.


Yes, lots of people who are not developers already have .NET installed.
Do they represent the majority of Windows users? I doubt it. But if your
application is a compelling one, having customers install the .NET
Framework should not be a big deal.

Pete

I agree, but why dont you try asking the same question in a forum not
dedicated to c#?!

HTH,
James.

 

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?G=F6ran_Andersson?=]

hello,
I have a question, I'm developping a software and I want of course
many people use it.
I chose c# visual studio 2005 express for development. is it a good
choice?
Yes.

I mean, people to use it need to download framework 2.0 right?
Yes.

is it
included in vista
Yes.

or for XP in service pack?

No, you download it separately. The service packs only contains critical
updates, and the .NET framework is not critical for the function of windows.

or you have to download
it, because maybe having to download framework 2.0 can make some
people give up to use the software.

Perhaps, but then they will have to give up a lot of software in the future.

Micrsoft themselves for example have said that they will transfer much
of their software development to the .NET platform.

I chose c# because of course you save a lot of time developping with
it, but maybe old school c++/visual c++ 6.0 still better to get e lot
of people using your software?
what do you think?

I think that most people doesn't care what language you are using to
develop the software. Some people wouldn't even have a clue what you
were talking about.

As long as you can tell them exactly what they need to do to make it
work, I believe that most people will be perfectly happy with it. At
least after you have assured them that they are very likely to need the
framework sooner or later anyway.