Microsoft To Open-Source .NET, Bring It Officially To Linux

[The 11th plague]

MIT license *and* a patent promise.

Wait, where's the patent promise?

[directhex]

Wait, where's the patent promise?

https://github.com/dotnet/corefx/blob/master/PATENTS.TXT

[Britoid]

sounds like just the server-side parts of .NET are being open sourced and the rest will remain proprietary
no thanks anyways, even if it was fully FOSS.

There are three components being open sourced: the .NET Framework Libraries, .NET Core Framework Libraries and the RyuJit VM. More details below.

.NET Framework Class Libraries
These are the class libraries that power the .NET framework as it ships on windows. The ones that Mono has historically implemented in an open source fashion.

The code is available today from http://github.com/Microsoft/referencesource. Mono will be able to use as much a it wants from this project.

http://tirania.org/blog/archive/2014/Nov-12.html

[The 11th plague]

https://github.com/dotnet/corefx/blo...er/PATENTS.TXT

It's present only in the corefx, but still... wow.

[jrch2k8]

dunno why xamarin don't just give up the idea on .NET on Linux, is just not gonna happen. No decent developer in Linux is going to use it and they haven't in the past because .NET is just too inneficient, too big and a security nightmare(mostly on Windows, probably Mono is a bit more decent to be fair).

Well, at least should be useful for unity and the other 5 guys using mono on Linux

[mvniekerk]

It is all about Enterprise

1. .NET is a major platform in Enterprise services
2. Java is a major platform in Enterprise services
3. Linux is preferable to anything in Enterprise environment
= Java is preferable over .NET, hurting Microsoft, having a runaway effect pushing .NET services into obscurity.

Having a patent promise and the source code, all the .NET and MS naysayers will 1. Either be vindicated or 2. Disproven (though, that will not stop them from saying nay).
Having the source code things like LLVM can leverage that into making native binaries, not just having it run on a bytecode VM.

All in all, FOSS wins. Which is good.

[-MacNuke-]

Pointless at this time unless they plan to open source and port whole framework stack including Windows Forms.

As far as I read it, .NET 5 does not includes any form of WPF or Windows.Forms, even on Windows. They plan to LTS .NET 4 for this case. In short: WPF and Windows.Form is dead now.

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldu...m-2454712.html (it is in German)

[brosis]

did hell just froze over?

The satan is still in place, its just temporary administration currently consists of smarter demons.

So this basically puts them at approximate level of Java.
Except, for their alienating history and repeated attempts at replacing/driving developers from free/open crossplatform systems towards their custom closed crap.

This is not enough. Far not enough.

[Michael_S]

1. .NET is a major platform in Enterprise services
2. Java is a major platform in Enterprise services
3. Linux is preferable to anything in Enterprise environment
= Java is preferable over .NET, hurting Microsoft, having a runaway effect pushing .NET services into obscurity.

Having a patent promise and the source code, all the .NET and MS naysayers will 1. Either be vindicated or 2. Disproven (though, that will not stop them from saying nay).
Having the source code things like LLVM can leverage that into making native binaries, not just having it run on a bytecode VM.

All in all, FOSS wins. Which is good.

Agreed.

Plus, I think having .NET and Java in more competition with each other is better for everyone. It will push the two language communities to keep improving their respective languages. It will also discourage Oracle from filing more copyright lawsuits against Java implementations - because it will just drive companies onto .NET.

(Edit) I think the real sign here is that Microsoft really wants to foster interest in Windows by removing costs for potential developers. It makes sense to them.

[Kemosabe]

Can someone explain me please: How is this beneficial for Microsoft? Why are they doing this?