I've been following/using Mono for a while for .NET development in Linux. After reading about this recent controversy and the link this article provides to DotGNU Portable .NET I wanted to know your experiences with both implementations, and what the palpable diferences between these two projects are. For instance, I had no idea that Portable .NET implemented System.Windows.Forms.
+4
A:
Mono is more widely-used, implements more of the BCL and has support from big Linux companies such as Novell.
In practical use, I find that Mono's System.Windows.Forms support is much better.
Lucas Jones
2009-07-01 21:44:03
+1
A:
The FSF's belief that Microsoft is going to force other implementations underground is a bit odd, considering that it is now an open standard:
ECMA-334: C# Language Specification
ECMA-335: Common Language Infrastructure
etc, etc, etc..
Anyway, Mono is certainly more mature than Portable .NET.
HVS
2009-07-01 21:45:35
+7
A:
I think one aspect of the answer is to look at project activity.
Here is Pnet's: http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/dotgnu-pnet/
Here is Mono's: http://cia.vc/stats/project/mono
Pnet seems to get activity a couple of times a week. Mono gets activity a couple of times an hour.
Pnet's latest release is 0.8 from March '07, Mono's latest release is 2.4.2 this week.
As for controversy, if there are patents that are going to torpedo Mono, they are going to apply equally to Pnet.
jpobst
2009-07-01 23:39:42