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what about c#

everybody is talkin about c# and the .net platform. They say that it is going to relegate vc++ to background. Now my question is that vc++ is a tool for high performance windows application and c# will be for th web. So can we really compare the two. I mean since i am a vc++ programer tell me what is its future when .net is all set to revolutionize the industry. where will a vc programer stand.

If neitod is there, then ask him also to pls answer this

jhance

>>everybody is talkin about c# and the .net platform

Not "everybody". You're confusing "everybody" with "everybody in the press and software development scene who is on the Microsoft payroll".

In my view, C# is a Microsoftized version of Java. The whole .NET thing is so much hype at this point that nobody knows for sure WHAT it is. Just read 2 or 3 articles about it and even the MS pundits don't agree.

>>going to relegate vc++ to background.

I agree that they would like to see this happen but it certainly remains to be seen. Considering that it's not even released to the world in a non-BETA form, there are a lot of unresolved questions. What developer in his right mind would trust his livelyhood to such a product at this point.

>>.net is all set to revolutionize the industry

You work for Microsoft too, don't you? Can we go down the list of Microsoft "ideas" that were going to revolutionize the industry? I'm not saying that .NET won't, or even that it can't. I'm just saying that the ONLY people saying it today are those who's JOBS DEPEND ON .NET BEING A SUCCESS!

nietod

>> tell me what is its future
Well the present is that the vast majority of professinal programs written for any platform are written in either C or C++. When C++ was developed beginning 20+ years ago it was forced to maintain support for C because of the tremendous number of C programs out there. Now there are probably a 100 times as many C and C++ programs. The need is certainly still there. C/C++ is likely to be the dominant programming language for the next decade at the very least.

Its extremely unlikely that Ms woudl abandon C++, since a few of their lesser know products are writen in it. Things like Windows, Office, and Explorer--you may have heard of these. But if they were to ever abandon C++, You could be certain that 10 times as many C/C++ compilers woudl spring up to replace it.

>> when .net is all set to revolutionize the industry
There has't been a revolution in computing since the 40's. Languages come and go slowly but that is hardly a revolution. (And very few ever die completely.) But when you change from one language to another, its not that big a deal, the skills in programming largely transend language. Most of what you know can be applied to the know langauge. Its just a matter of learning a new syntax.

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DanRollins

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asafko

Seems like experts in here didn't get much into the new microsoft .NET platform and C#.

I'm not working at Microsoft!
But ... I've studied the environment for the last two month, and it has some incredible things.
It really seems that Microsoft succseded to make the best out of both C++ and Java, And their platform and classes are much further mature than other new programming environment (Because it is based on an existing Microsoft Java libraries already used for a while).

C++ developers (like myself), are always too proud to acknowledge something else might be better, but .NET really offer much more than a new programming language.

Main features which really help programmers are:
- XML Comments (Genereate an automated help from remarks in your code), which are really great feature.
- Language independency (C# code is actually same as VB, only the keywords are different).
- Code arranging tools & Hidden code sections, allow you to only look at pseudo code of your code, or just the flow in plain ENGLISH, which is a great feature.
- The framework is actually more powerfull for win32 GUI applications, rather than Web design, but web design is really a snap.
- It is very easy with .NET to write complex web application, using "common" programming languages such as C# and VB.
- The libraries are really extensive and also include support for many features, which previously had many ways to handle, thus making life easier choosing a tool for:
MAPI, TAPI, Security, XML manipulations, ADO.NET and much more.

there is much more out there on .NET, and I must have already sound like a complete Microsoft jerk. but ...
I like it, it's seems like going in the right direction.

by the way, C# compiles ten times faster then C++, because they've taken out preprocessing completely.
which gives me much less time to cruise the NET during compile time of big projects :)

My suggestion, although commercial C# applications can take a little while:
- If you don't know XML yet(Inside and out), learn it now! in a few years (???) you won't be able to work under windows without knowing XML.
- If you don't know .NET, don't ask too many questions, D/L the public Beta, Install it and test it yourself.

I'm sure there's something for everyone in this new HUGE environment.

asafko

Forgot, one last thing.

As MFC programmers, we all know it actually sucks! and written badly, making it so hard to Microsft to do modifications, that they gave it the boot already 2 years ago!

I think that the C# libraries (at least the WinForms library), is much straight forward and better designed than the MFC libraries.

nietod

>> Seems like experts in here didn't get much into the new
>> microsoft .NET platform and C#.
I don't think many programmers anywhere are using it much.

>> C++ developers (like myself), are always too proud to acknowledge
>> something else might be bette
Not all C++ developers.

>> you won't be able to
>> work under windows without knowing XML.
That is the exact same advice that I was told about MFC about 10 years ago. I still don't know it. Most VB programmers don't either.

>> f you don't know .NET, don't ask too many questions,
The question isn't about C#, its about VC and its future. VC almost certianly has a future and C++ certainly has a future.

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