Possible dumb question: .NET without the framework

[Chuck B]

I have a .NET application installed on a server. It runs fine when I run an
instance on my PC. My question is, is it possible to run a .NET app hosted
on a server without having the framework installed on the client PC?

 

[Jon Skeet [C# MVP]]

I have a .NET application installed on a server. It runs fine when I run an
instance on my PC. My question is, is it possible to run a .NET app hosted
on a server without having the framework installed on the client PC?

No - the framework has to be present on the computing *executing* the
code, not just the one which hosts the files.

 

[Cowboy \(Gregory A. Beamer\)]

Only in the case of web applications. If you want to run a desktop
application, you will have to have .NET installed.

There is one exception. There are tools out there that compile .NET to
native equivalents, which makes them a windows executable, not .NET. In
general, they are expensive. Other than that, web apps are the only
exception to the rule, as the browser just gets HTML and JavaScript.

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP, MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

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| Think outside the box!
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[Chuck B]

Ok. I know that an exception message shows up on the client PC. Is there
some way to build a stub that would check the client PC for the framework
and give a more user friendly message if it's not installed?

 

[Cowboy \(Gregory A. Beamer\)]

Not with an installed program, but you can bootstrap the .NET Framework to
an installer. This includes both the exe/msi type of installer and the
ClickOnce deployment model.

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP, MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

*************************************************
| Think outside the box!
|
*************************************************