Simple question!

[Guest]

What is the diffrence between C++, C#, VC++ and .NET?

And what is this CLR that everyone is talking about?

So if I want to use the .NET frameworks, do I have to learn C#.

And how does Visual studio tie into all this?

And can C# do every thing that I used to do in VC++?

And where can I get a non complicted document that sumerizes all these
technologies in the form of an hiarchy? (if it exists!)

I am confused, this stuff went too far!

Any feedback is appreciated! Thanks!

Rob

 

[Carl Daniel [VC++ MVP]]

What is the diffrence between C++, C#, VC++ and .NET?

C++ is a language, standardized by ISO as ISO 14882-1998, subsequently
ammended in 2003. C++ is a hybrid language that offers very high and very
low level features.

C# is a language, standardized by ECMA as ECMA-334. As a language, it's
very similar to Java.

VC++ is Visual C++ - A Microsoft product that combines a C++ compiler with
libraries and tools to enable C++ development on Windows.

..NET is a large class library and an execution environment in which those
classes can execute.

And what is this CLR that everyone is talking about?

The CLR is the Common Language Runtime. It's the implementation of the
execution environment in which .NET classes run on Windows.

So if I want to use the .NET frameworks, do I have to learn C#.

No. You can use literally dozens of different languages to use the .NET
framework, including C++, C#, Java (J#), JScript, Visual Basic, Python and
many others.

And how does Visual studio tie into all this?

Visual Studio is a product from Microsoft that combines a development
environment (IDE) with one or more language implementations. The current
version is VS 2005, with VS 2008 just around the corner. VS 2005 supports
C#, J#, VB.NET and C++ (J# is being dropped in Vs 2008). Thrid parties
offer additional languages and other kinds of plug-ins that can integrate
with Visual Studio as well.

And can C# do every thing that I used to do in VC++?
No.

And where can I get a non complicted document that sumerizes all these
technologies in the form of an hiarchy? (if it exists!)

http://msdn.microsoft.com

Get busy ;-) Seriously though, try the ".NET Framework Developer Center" as
a starting point.
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/default.aspx

-cd

 

[PvdG42]

See responses in context...

What is the diffrence between C++, C#, VC++ and .NET?

C++ and C# are programming languages (see below for important differences).
Visual C++ is more a marketing term, indicating the C++ facility and
compiler that comes in Visual Studio, or (as marketing terms are often
vague) it has been used to refer to C++/CLI, which is C++ with proprietary
extensions to support .NET application development. In extremely general
terms, .NET refers to a set of technologies that supports managed software
development and execution.

And what is this CLR that everyone is talking about?

Google Common Language Runtime.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Language_Runtime

So if I want to use the .NET frameworks, do I have to learn C#.

No. There is a pretty long list of languages that support .NET. Within
Visual Studio, three are supplied: C++, C# and Visual Basic (I purposely
left out J#, as it is gone from Visual Studio 2008). C# and Visual Basic
(after v6) are pure .NET languages. With C++ you can choose to go with .NET
or write standalone apps.

And how does Visual studio tie into all this?

VS is the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that supports development
of many types of projects using C++, C# or Visual Basic, plus other
languages that can be added.

And can C# do every thing that I used to do in VC++?

No. You cannot use C# to develop non-.NET apps.

And where can I get a non complicted document that sumerizes all these
technologies in the form of an hiarchy? (if it exists!)

You need to do the research. Google for introductory articles, then dig in
from there.

I am confused, this stuff went too far!

You are where we all were, at one time or another. The fog will clear as you
dig in.

 

[Peter Oliphant]

Great answer!

C++ is a language, standardized by ISO as ISO 14882-1998, subsequently
ammended in 2003. C++ is a hybrid language that offers very high and very
low level features.

C# is a language, standardized by ECMA as ECMA-334. As a language, it's
very similar to Java.

VC++ is Visual C++ - A Microsoft product that combines a C++ compiler with
libraries and tools to enable C++ development on Windows.

.NET is a large class library and an execution environment in which those
classes can execute.


The CLR is the Common Language Runtime. It's the implementation of the
execution environment in which .NET classes run on Windows.


No. You can use literally dozens of different languages to use the .NET
framework, including C++, C#, Java (J#), JScript, Visual Basic, Python and
many others.


Visual Studio is a product from Microsoft that combines a development
environment (IDE) with one or more language implementations. The current
version is VS 2005, with VS 2008 just around the corner. VS 2005 supports
C#, J#, VB.NET and C++ (J# is being dropped in Vs 2008). Thrid parties
offer additional languages and other kinds of plug-ins that can integrate
with Visual Studio as well.


http://msdn.microsoft.com

Get busy ;-) Seriously though, try the ".NET Framework Developer Center"
as a starting point.
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/default.aspx

-cd