Using .NET for free software development

[Robert Björn]

I'm been playing on and off for quite some time with .NET and am fairly
enthusiastic about it. The Windows Forms library alone is quite amazing
(although I'd love a Java-style layout library, I hate hardcoding positions
and sizes), and is really what MFC should have been.
Now I'm anxious to select .NET for a private free software project or two. I
have some related questions:

1) Does Microsoft allow the use of .NET for free software projects? What
conditions are placed upon free software developers using .NET? Can I use
the GPL, and if not, what other reasonable "free" licenses are supported?

2) How can non-commercial .NET applications be deployed reasonably without
violating any licensing terms? Preferably with the .NET framework included
or with some tool that at least advises the user of the need for the library
and where to get it. Is it possible?

3) Professionally, I'm used to Microsoft Visual Studio .NET -- an excellent
development environment. Does Microsoft make (or plan to make) this product
(or a limited release) available at a good discount so that hobbyists
writing non-commercial software can reasonably buy it? I'm aware of the
academic license but as I'm a full-time programmer and not a student,
surely I wouldn't qualify.

4) What alternative development environments are there for .NET
applications? Is Notepad my best bet?

With gotdotnet.com, it seems that Microsoft is determined to really build a
community of .NET developers. It is my belief that this goal can only fully
be reached with the support of hobbyists world-wide (contrary to popular
belief, not all hobbyist developers adore Linux and hate Microsoft).
However, I am having a hard time tracking down solid answers to some of my
questions above.

Any info, from Microsoft or anyone else, would be highly appreciated.

Regards,
Robert

 

[Marc Scheuner [AD MVP]]

I'm been playing on and off for quite some time with .NET and am fairly

enthusiastic about it. The Windows Forms library alone is quite amazing

Well, we Delphites have had this level of RAD since 1995 really - no
big news

2) How can non-commercial .NET applications be deployed reasonably without
violating any licensing terms? Preferably with the .NET framework included

I wouldn't - just make it clear to the user, he needs to (once)
download and install the .NET framework. If you ship your stuff on
CD-ROM, then I'd include the .NET framework on CD - don't bloat your
downloads by including the .NET framework - more and more folks will
already have the .NET framework installed.

4) What alternative development environments are there for .NET
applications? Is Notepad my best bet?

Have a good look at Borland's C#Builder - if they continue their
"tradition" (as with Delphi and C++Builder), then it should a) be
superior to VS.NET hands-down, and b) available for free (or very
cheap - under $100) in a "Personal" Edition, which usually works well
enough for most freeware type of development.

http://www.borland.com/csharpbuilder/index.html

DataSheet (PDF)
http://www.borland.com/csharpbuilder/pdf/csharp_datasheet.pdf

Tech Overview (PDF)
http://www.borland.com/csharpbuilder/pdf/csharp_techview.pdf

Marc
================================================================
Marc Scheuner May The Source Be With You!
Bern, Switzerland m.scheuner(at)inova.ch

 

[agron]

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I'm been playing on and off for quite some time with .NET and am fairly
enthusiastic about it. The Windows Forms library alone is quite amazing
(although I'd love a Java-style layout library, I hate hardcoding
positions and sizes), and is really what MFC should have been.
Now I'm anxious to select .NET for a private free software project ortwo.
I have some related questions:

1) Does Microsoft allow the use of .NET for free software projects? What
conditions are placed upon free software developers using .NET? Can Iuse
the GPL, and if not, what other reasonable "free" licenses are supported?

GPL is not the one microsoft want you to agree with. For you to be ableto
use VS.NET for any kind of project microsoft wants you to agree to VS.NET
EULA. Anyone using microsoft products with out a license will be
*prosecuted*. Read here http://www.cybercrime.gov

2) How can non-commercial .NET applications be deployed reasonably without
violating any licensing terms? Preferably with the .NET framework included
or with some tool that at least advises the user of the need for the
library and where to get it. Is it possible?

With VS.NET there is no difference between commercial and non-commerial.NET
applications. The developer must agree to VS.NET EULA, or he/she shall be
prosecuted.

3) Professionally, I'm used to Microsoft Visual Studio .NET -- an
excellent development environment. Does Microsoft make (or plan to make)
this product (or a limited release) available at a good discount so that
hobbyists writing non-commercial software can reasonably buy it? I'm aware
of the academic license but as I'm a full-time programmer and not a
student, surely I wouldn't qualify.

Well, right now VS.NET is the most *expensive* IDE non-upgrade package at
www.programmersparadise.com. Since it is leading the pack (by price) I
don't think they make any *good* discount any time soon. I think its price
will drop at a rate of 3% per year.

4) What alternative development environments are there for .NET
applications? Is Notepad my best bet?

*WARNING* Notepad is not GPL. You need to agree to windows operating system
(version) EULA to be able to use Notepad or you will be prosecuted.

With gotdotnet.com, it seems that Microsoft is determined to really build
a community of .NET developers. It is my belief that this goal can only
fully be reached with the support of hobbyists world-wide (contrary to
popular belief, not all hobbyist developers adore Linux and hate
Microsoft). However, I am having a hard time tracking down solid answers
to some of my questions above.

Well, in the real world you can do voluteer work for charity, you can donate
money, you can buy something usefull and donate, or you can hire someone to
do some work for charity on your behalf. I think that as long you can
contribute to that community and microsoft you can be part of building that
community.
You will never find solid answers on this topic. People don't know what
".NET" is anymore (is it a library, framework, language, OS, compiler,
office suite, AciveX, COM+, web server, web site, top level domain, just a
tag, product version, all of the above, some of the above, none of the
above).

Any info, from Microsoft or anyone else, would be highly appreciated.

Regards,
Robert

NOTE: I don't have any microsoft EULA file at home. I may be wrong about
some details I mentioned above.


Agron


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[Robert Björn]

Hello Russ,

As a matter of fact I stumbled upon SharpDevelop and tried the most recent
version yesterday. I was very impressed, seems like a perfectly usable
environment -- even has a Forms designer almost identical to the one in
VS.NET. Highly recommended.

Thanks for your responses to my other questions, I think you straightened
things out for me.

Regards,
Robert

 

[Uri Dor]

if they continue their "tradition", C#Builder should also have c)
horrible help and d) impossibly annoying floating GUI

 

[Robert Björn]

Yes, I'm aware of Anchor, but it doesn't come close to the power of the Java
layout engine, unless I've missed something. In particular, I find it
important that the layout is completely dynamic so that the GUI can adapt to
the current language strings, for example. I doubt that even very nested
anchored panels can achieve that degree of flexibility. Admittedly, I
haven't played with this all that much in .NET.