The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5)

Confused about .NET

I have never really understood what .NET is and why I should start using it over MFC for windows apps. I primarily use Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 and MFC to develop client apps, but with all this buzz about .NET, I am hopelessly in the dark. Can anyone elaborate on what .NET is, what it can do for me, and how to go about learning/using it?

Thanks.

PS - I am mainly a C++ programmer...

Kristof
Thursday, May 20, 2004

I posted a brief description of what .NET is in http://discuss.fogcreek.com/newyork/default.asp?cmd=show&ixPost=3799 ... ask again if you have further questions about it.

To learn it, I:

* have some new software that I want to implement (i.e. requirements), and decide to do it using .NET
* use Visual Studio 2003 with framework 1.1
* have MSDN
* read the C# language reference (in the MSDN help file)
* start coding (using MSDN to help me learn the framework classes)

Christopher Wells
Thursday, May 20, 2004

Thanks for the link. It seems that there will be a lot more .NET job openings now/in the future because of this product, no? So if I stick with MFC/Win32 API, then not only am I not keeping up with the times, but I have less of chance of getting a job (if I need one) in the future?

Kristof
Thursday, May 20, 2004

Although MFC/Win32 probably won't disappear for many years, the number of new projects based up on is likely to decrease over time, while the number of .NET projects is likely to increase.

Good thing too, IMHO. I loved MFC, et al when I first used it, back in the '90s, but since moving to .NET about two years ago, I haven't looked back.

Steve Jones (UK)
Thursday, May 20, 2004

The next job I had after C++-on-Windows, before my current C#-on-Windows job, was C++-on-Linux (though I'm more experienced with servers than with clients: did less than a year of MFC-based client programming).

Christopher Wells
Thursday, May 20, 2004

Wait, there are tons of books, why even this OP?

Li-fan Chen
Thursday, May 20, 2004

No reason to be confused about .NET . . . once you do it, in whatever language, you will NOT go back unless you have to.

asdf
Thursday, May 20, 2004

"No reason to be confused about .NET . . . once you do it, in whatever language, you will NOT go back unless you have to."

Let me guess - VB programmer? There is a world of VB programmers that think that .NET is revolutionary because their world is so small.

.
Thursday, May 20, 2004

<<Confused about .NET >>

Relocate to Redmond. You will find a lot of company and sympathy

K
Thursday, May 20, 2004