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Idea #15830: Use Mono for native windows aplications

Written by Primož Papič the 21 Nov 08 at 17:48. Category: Usability. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
This is a "really" brainstorming, meaning that I'm not even sure if this is possible or desirable. I'm just tossing it out so it can be discussed.
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Mono is an .NET interpreter so why wouldn't we use it to run native windows applications with it?
Now I don't know if this is a good idea, or not. Or even if it's possible, but if it is it would be cool.
I know that most of you don't like mono (is it just because it's from Microsoft, or because .NET is messy ...).
There was an "idea" which asked us why do we need mono.
I think that mono doesn't need to be included by default, but it can be installed if it would to be an interpreter for native Windows .NET applications.
Now I don't know which of applications are coded in .NET.
But I have a hunch that my favourite game (which is not supported in Wine is coded in .NET.

(So yes this might be a egoistic idea, but still)
I think, that if possible, Mono should become more of a compatibility layer instead of compiler for native Linux apps such as Tomboy and Banshee.

As I said I don't really know much about this topic but I tried to do research, but didn't find anything helpful.
So I am aware of possibility that this could be as stupid as an idea about .exe to .deb converter.

So please comment.
Tags: mono

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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #15830
Written by Primož Papič the 21 Nov 08 at 17:48.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #15830 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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Comments
Emacs23 wrote on the 21 Nov 08 at 18:05
Lol

Primož Papič wrote on the 21 Nov 08 at 18:08
Well I would like to know what is so funny.
That's why I posted it and that's also why I hadn't yet voted on it.
But I guess it's a stupid idea...

ezekiel_000 wrote on the 21 Nov 08 at 18:29
I don't think it's possible as .Net is an implementation of the C# programming language and Mono is an implementation of the C# programming language but just like you can't just run a C or C++ program compiled for Windows natively in Linux even though both have implementations of both languages.

Matthias wrote on the 21 Nov 08 at 18:45
Force Microsoft to use Mono instead of MS.NET ;-)

Primož Papič wrote on the 21 Nov 08 at 18:53
Well Wikipedia says that both .NET and Mono use C#.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_(software)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework
Anyway...

biomega wrote on the 21 Nov 08 at 18:54
Mono can already run some Windows programs, but to be sincere I don't know which ones. I think that are programs compiled specially with C# and stuff like that...

DrHalan wrote on the 21 Nov 08 at 19:06
Hm i dont know if that is possible but i would like it to be ;)

+1

vexorian wrote on the 21 Nov 08 at 21:08
tomboy/banshee are not native Linux apps.

Mono already works as a compatibility Layer, unfortunately, .net (as usual with MS "open standards", see OOXML for more information) is only optionally-open, which means that although most of .net is under Microsoft's little promise not to sue, vital parts like system.windows.forms are not, hence the reason it is not included by default even in ubuntu or Red Hat... Cause the patent threat there is incredibly solid.

So, you install this windows.forms package, I don't know exactly what the name is, and you can, in theory, run .net apps. Of course, this is not true, cause the .net apps probably have a windows installer, or are binded to SQL server, or an activeX object (Since Visual Studio almost forces these things along with windows.forms on the developer) So... Not to mention directX (XNA)

Well, there you go, the only useful thing Mono could do, helping to port the windows .net into Linux, is the one thing Mono is simply NOT doing correctly, enjoy.

PS: Make sure to flame the next guy you see in a board saying that .net is cross platform, it isn't. Simple as that.

Ssdg wrote on the 22 Nov 08 at 00:20
Mono isn't a compatibility layer, it's a virtual machine.

.net is M$ "copy and fail" of Java

So MS.net is the .net version of the Java virtual machine (java in command line) and Mono is like gcj.

Ssdg wrote on the 22 Nov 08 at 00:22
(Oh, and of course it can't run non .net programs. And there is only a few programs that are in .net)

vexorian wrote on the 22 Nov 08 at 00:57
And no .net program is a "native windows app" .

lifestream wrote on the 25 Nov 08 at 04:24
Sadly (... ok, maybe not sadly) this is impossible to implement.

But how about that exe to deb converter? That might work:
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/15312/

... Just kidding


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