Re: What is .NET?

From: [at]} <Bob>
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 19:20:01 +0000

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Hi,

> So I also ask. What is .NET and are we any better with it?

it appears to be a bundle of bits & pieces that Bill Gates has put
together to respond to Java, and to get as big a chunk of the internet
as he can. I have read somewhere that he is personally supervising the
".Net project", whatever that means.

I have tried to get a more complete answer myself. It's very difficult
to find a neutral book which provides an overview for technically
sophisticated people who don't (yet) want or need to wade through
masses of horrible C# code. I have found a couple of books that look as
though they're worth further consideration, but for now I can't find my
references - when I do I'll post them. One of the authors claims that
nobody at Microsoft knows what .Net is either. That probably means it's
more froth than coffee.

John Gough's paper comparing the 2 VMs is well worth reading, and
gives some historical perspective wrt P-code, iirc.

> So I answer your question with a question. Why XML? Why a markup language?
> To me markup languages have always been a step backwards.

It isn't really used as a markup language. It seems to be used more as
a data definition language, with facilities for mapping between
representations.

The XML camp seems to have delusions of grandeur and to be over-hyping
it. It seems to want to turn it into a (hierarchical!) database
management system, as well as everything else. Another panacea. More
snake oil. Another giant leap backwards.

As far as I can see, EBNF can do everything and more that XML can, as
far as data definition and transformation is concerned, and is far more
elegant, efficient, readable, succinct and compact. For a jaundiced view
of XML see http://www.oceaninformatics.biz/publications/e2.pdf.

Our industry is driven by fads and fashion, and has no historical
perspective. :o(

-- 
Regards,
 Bob
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Received on Tue Mar 02 2004 - 20:20:01 UTC