Mono v2.0 .NET for Linux Released
Mono is an open source implementation of the .NET framework for Linux, Windows, MacOS and other operating systems. Mono v2.0 was just released and represents a major milestone in the Mono project.
Features and Tools
Mono v2.0 includes the following features:
- ADO.NET 2.0 API for accessing databases
- ASP.NET 2.0 API for developing Web-based applications
- Windows.Forms 2.0 API to create desktop applications
- System.XML 2.0 API to manipulate XML documents
- System.Core provides support for the Language Integrated Query (LINQ)
- System.Drawing 2.0 API for portable graphics rendering
Mono v2.0 includes the following compilers:
- C# 3.0 compiler with full LINQ support
- Visual Basic 8 compiler
- IL assembler and disassembler
- Library and application builders
Mono v2.0 includes the following tools:
- Debugger for managed code
- Gendarme, an extensible rule-based tool to find problems in .NET assemblies
- Mono Linker, which enables developers to reduce the size of their assemblies
- Mono Tuner, a tool to apply arbitrary user-defined transformations to assemblies (such as the ability to produce Silverlight core libraries from the main system libraries)
- Mono Documentation Tools, which can produce online and offline documentation for any any APIs
Mono is Evil?
Some members of the Linux community have branded the Mono project as “evil, a sellout, a product of a Microsoft-loving lackey from its inception.” I never understood the open source community’s aversion to free enterprise. I guess they see commercial software as the competition. I think the software world is big enough to support both models.
The .NET Framework is a terrific environment on which to build Windows desktop and web software. The Mono project extends the reach of .NET to other non-Microsoft platforms such as Linux and Mac. Mono shines the open-source light on the closed-source world of Microsoft technologies. I believe that any project which provides additional tools and productivity for developers is a good thing.
Article published on October 7, 2008
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November 25th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
This is the first time that I’ve even heard of mono – and I’m happy to hear that something like this is available. I’m employed as a programmer in a microsoft world, being forced to used visual studio at work. This will give me something to play with at home on my linux box 🙂
January 14th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
For some reason some “members of the Linux community” irrationally hate all things Microsoft. Don’t even try to talk to them about ASP vs. LAMP.
I see Mono as a ideal way to leverage .net code, but I think Microsoft should have created a Mono using a subset of .net.
October 13th, 2010 at 10:59 am
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