I just want to know, is it possible write a desktop application with C# and run it on windows 98?
I never tried building desktop application and my friend said I should learn VB. The thing is, I don’t like VB I already learnt Java a couple years ago and it’s good but I don’t like its GUI. I usually use PHP for web programming projects I do, but I don’t really want to use it (PHP-GTK?) to build a desktop application.
So last month I tried C# (built ASP.NET web application & web service) and so far I’m quite happy with it. And it’d be great if I can use C# to build a desktop application (WinForms?) too. Anyone know a good tutorial on how to do it with C#? Is building a dektop-app really different with building a web-app?
yes it is absolutely possible. .net has a new API for building .net programs. It is will be easy to pick up since you are a previous java programmer. “programming c#” by jesse has an introductory to this stuff, however you may be able to jump right in by looking at the documentation that comes with the .net sdk.
Actually, building a Widnows Forms application is incredibly similiar to a Web Forms Applications. I have fooled around with ASP.NET and it’s Web Forms some time now, and one day I happened to download the Google API, which includes an example of a small Windows Forms application - I was quite surprised that I could understand it almost 100%, even though I’ve never written a desktop application in my life.
Thats basically the point of Web Forms and Windows Forms.
In theory, you develop the ASP.NET using Web Forms and code behinds/a few DLLs. You can then take the code and use it with the Windows Forms without actually changing anything.
Originally posted by Husain But you will need to have the .NET Framework installed wherever you intend to deploy the desktop application.
I thought it was possible to compile .NET applications into native code & link what is needed to it… Thus there is no need to have the .NET framework installed where the application is deployed…
Ok, I lied, I know that it is possible to compile into native code, I assumed that the needed code could be linked to the app. Was I wrong in assuming that? (probably… although it would be nice if it were so).
From a book called A Programmers Introduction to Visual Basic.NET by Craig Utley (PDF-ZIPPED):
When you compile the code from any language that supports the .NET Framework, it compiles into something called MSIL, or Microsoft Intermediate Language. This MSIL file is binary, but it is not machine code; instead, it is a format that is platform independent and can be placed on any machine running the .NET Framework. Within the .NET Framework is a compiler called the Just-In-Time, or JIT, compiler. It compiles the MSIL down to machine code specific to that hardware and operating system.
So that is why users of your application will need to have the .NET Framework (distributable or otherwise) installed.
yeah, but I’m 100% that it is also possible, although not the default option, to compile C# into native code. In fact, I’m looking at the command line compiler right now.
so, let me get this straight. I can code a desktop app / win forms with C#, compile it, and run it on windows 98 IF the client on win 98 ALSO install the .NET framework? that 131 Mb download? is that correct? and Jeremy, which 25 Mb download that you meant?
Originally posted by lithium
[B]whoops… sorry I can’t get back earlier.
so, let me get this straight. I can code a desktop app / win forms with C#, compile it, and run it on windows 98 IF the client on win 98 ALSO install the .NET framework? that 131 Mb download? is that correct? and Jeremy, which 25 Mb download that you meant?
thanks for the replies, ppl! [/B]
No, the 131 MB download is the SDK. The SDK includes, apart from the framework, developer tools (compilers, etc) and documentation.
The Framework itself is only 21MB and can be found here:
Originally posted by Jeremy W. And, yes, you can command-line do .NET apps, or you can get Microsoft Visual C#.NET for 85$
I’m going a bit off topic now, but what is the difference between “Visual C#.NET”, “Visual Studio.NET Professional” and “Visual Studio.NET Enterprise Developer”?
The 25Mb download is the .NET redistributable, that is all a client needs to run your apps. The 131Mb download is the .NET SDK, you should download that for yourself as its full of usefull stuff and packed with documentation.
Just a note, .NET applications will run fine on Win 98 however there is no support for running ASP.NET applications.
I already learnt Java a couple years ago and it’s good but I don’t like its GUI. I usually use PHP for web programming projects I do, but I don’t really want to use it (PHP-GTK?) to build a desktop application.
shuush! 