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The Mono project, designed to offer a cross-platform implementation of .NET, initially sought to avoid patent or copyright issues. While it gained traction, the 2006 agreement between Microsoft and Novell provided partial legal protection to Novell's customers but did not address broader concerns about patents, leading the Free Software Foundation (FSF) to advise caution. The FSF's revised '''[[GNU General Public License|GNU General Public License (GPL)]]''' aimed to close loopholes Microsoft had exploited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft and Novell Collaboration, follow - Miguel de Icaza |url=https://tirania.org/blog/archive/2006/Nov-04.html |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=tirania.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=OpenText Press Room & News |url=https://www.opentext.com/about/press-room?id=1196 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=OpenText |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ASP.NET {{!}} Mono |url=https://www.mono-project.com/docs/web/aspnet/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=www.mono-project.com}}</ref> | The Mono project, designed to offer a cross-platform implementation of .NET, initially sought to avoid patent or copyright issues. While it gained traction, the 2006 agreement between Microsoft and Novell provided partial legal protection to Novell's customers but did not address broader concerns about patents, leading the Free Software Foundation (FSF) to advise caution. The FSF's revised '''[[GNU General Public License|GNU General Public License (GPL)]]''' aimed to close loopholes Microsoft had exploited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft and Novell Collaboration, follow - Miguel de Icaza |url=https://tirania.org/blog/archive/2006/Nov-04.html |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=tirania.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=OpenText Press Room & News |url=https://www.opentext.com/about/press-room?id=1196 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=OpenText |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ASP.NET {{!}} Mono |url=https://www.mono-project.com/docs/web/aspnet/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=www.mono-project.com}}</ref> | ||
The landscape changed in '''2014''' when Microsoft began open-sourcing many core .NET technologies under the '''[[Apache License]]''' and established the '''[[.NET Foundation]]'''. This led to the open-sourcing of '''[[ASP.NET MVC]], [[Entity Framework]], F#, Roslyn''' (C# and VB.NET compiler), and other frameworks. Microsoft's goal was to broaden .NET adoption across multiple platforms, including '''[[Linux]]''' and '''[[macOS]]'''. By '''June 2016''', Microsoft released '''[[.NET|.NET Core 1.0]]''', a lean, cross-platform version of .NET.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft claims software like Linux violates its patents - May 28, 2007 |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=money.cnn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft still open sources more technologies than many think |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-still-open-sources-more-technologies-than-many-think/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}</ref> | The landscape changed in '''2014''' when Microsoft began open-sourcing many core .NET technologies under the '''[[Apache License]]''' and established the '''[[.NET Foundation]]'''. This led to the open-sourcing of '''[[ASP.NET MVC]], [[Entity Framework]], F#, Roslyn''' (C# and VB.NET compiler), and other frameworks. Microsoft's goal was to broaden .NET adoption across multiple platforms, including '''[[Linux]]''' and '''[[macOS]]'''. By '''June 2016''', Microsoft released '''[[.NET|.NET Core 1.0]]''', a lean, cross-platform version of .NET.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft claims software like Linux violates its patents - May 28, 2007 |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=money.cnn.com |archive-date=2007-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109190233/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/ |dead-url=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft still open sources more technologies than many think |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-still-open-sources-more-technologies-than-many-think/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}</ref> | ||
By '''2020''', .NET Core evolved into ''' | By '''2020''', .NET Core evolved into '''.NET 5''', and in subsequent years '''.NET 6''' and '''.NET 7''' were released, unifying the previously separate .NET Framework and .NET Core. The framework is now fully open-source, with active contributions from Microsoft and the broader community. '''.NET MAUI''' (Multi-platform App UI) has further consolidated cross-platform capabilities, enabling developers to write applications that work on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS from a single codebase.<ref>{{Cite web |title=F# Software Foundation |url=https://fsharp.org/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=fsharp.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Projects |url=https://dotnetfoundation.org/projects/current-projects |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=DotNetFoundation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-01 |title=Xamarin partners with Microsoft to deliver .NET everywhere {{!}} CITEworld |url=http://www.citeworld.com/article/2114289/development/xamarin-partners-microsoft-deliver-net-everywhere.html |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=web.archive.org |archive-date=2014-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901184038/http://www.citeworld.com/article/2114289/development/xamarin-partners-microsoft-deliver-net-everywhere.html |dead-url=unfit }}</ref> | ||
== Traditional Computer Applications == | == Traditional Computer Applications == | ||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
Java's '''[[Abstract Window Toolkit|AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit)]]''' and '''Swing''' libraries offer extensive features but have not significantly impacted the desktop market. In '''2006''', Java 6.0 was released, emphasizing desktop integration, followed by '''[[JavaFX]]''', which aimed to compete with technologies like Adobe Flash by providing a modern framework for building rich client applications. | Java's '''[[Abstract Window Toolkit|AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit)]]''' and '''Swing''' libraries offer extensive features but have not significantly impacted the desktop market. In '''2006''', Java 6.0 was released, emphasizing desktop integration, followed by '''[[JavaFX]]''', which aimed to compete with technologies like Adobe Flash by providing a modern framework for building rich client applications. | ||
However, ''' | However, '''.NET''' remains the more popular framework for developing desktop applications on '''[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]''', offering '''[[Windows Forms]]''', '''[[Windows Presentation Foundation|Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)]]''', and previously '''[[Microsoft Silverlight|Silverlight]]'''. With tight integration into the Windows platform, .NET applications benefit from a native look and feel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mono Applications? Aplenty! – OSnews |url=https://www.osnews.com/story/9780/mono-applications-aplenty/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mono Applications? Aplenty! – OSnews |url=https://www.osnews.com/story/9780/mono-applications-aplenty/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
Java has made inroads with the '''[[Standard Widget Toolkit]] (SWT)''', particularly in environments like Eclipse, but '''Swing''' and ''' | Java has made inroads with the '''[[Standard Widget Toolkit]] (SWT)''', particularly in environments like Eclipse, but '''Swing''' and '''AWT''' have not reached the same level of desktop adoption. | ||
=== Server Applications === | === Server Applications === | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
'''[[Android (operating system)|Android]]''', one of the most significant mobile platforms, continues to be heavily based on Java. However, over time, '''[[Kotlin (programming language)|Kotlin]]''' has become the primary language for Android development due to its more modern features and better integration with the Android ecosystem. Android's '''[[Dalvik (software)|Dalvik]]''' virtual machine and later '''ART''' diverged from standard Java implementations, but Java remains an important language in Android development. | '''[[Android (operating system)|Android]]''', one of the most significant mobile platforms, continues to be heavily based on Java. However, over time, '''[[Kotlin (programming language)|Kotlin]]''' has become the primary language for Android development due to its more modern features and better integration with the Android ecosystem. Android's '''[[Dalvik (software)|Dalvik]]''' virtual machine and later '''ART''' diverged from standard Java implementations, but Java remains an important language in Android development. | ||
Microsoft has invested heavily in cross-platform mobile development through '''[[Xamarin]]''', which it acquired in 2016. By '''2023''', ''' | Microsoft has invested heavily in cross-platform mobile development through '''[[Xamarin]]''', which it acquired in 2016. By '''2023''', '''.NET MAUI''' (an evolution of Xamarin) allows developers to write cross-platform applications for '''Android''', '''iOS''', '''macOS''', and '''Windows''' using a single codebase in C#. This has made .NET a more viable competitor in mobile development. | ||
==== Home Entertainment Technologies ==== | ==== Home Entertainment Technologies ==== | ||
Java has found a niche in '''[[digital television]]''' and '''[[Blu-ray]]''' players, particularly through the '''[[BD-J]]''' interactive platform, which was accepted as the official tool for Blu-ray disc development. Java's presence in set-top boxes and digital TV has also expanded, with applications like '''[[TiVo Media File System|TiVo's]] Home Media Engine''' using Java-based extensions. | Java has found a niche in '''[[digital television]]''' and '''[[Blu-ray]]''' players, particularly through the '''[[BD-J]]''' interactive platform, which was accepted as the official tool for Blu-ray disc development. Java's presence in set-top boxes and digital TV has also expanded, with applications like '''[[TiVo Media File System|TiVo's]] Home Media Engine''' using Java-based extensions. | ||
The alternative, '''HDi''', developed by Microsoft and Disney for the defunct '''[[HD DVD]]''' format, used a combination of XML, CSS, and JavaScript. However, HD DVD's failure left ''' | The alternative, '''HDi''', developed by Microsoft and Disney for the defunct '''[[HD DVD]]''' format, used a combination of XML, CSS, and JavaScript. However, HD DVD's failure left '''BD-J''' as the primary interactive platform for high-definition media. | ||
=== Runtime Inclusion in Operating Systems === | === Runtime Inclusion in Operating Systems === | ||
==== .NET/Mono ==== | ==== .NET/Mono ==== | ||
Microsoft has continued to promote .NET as its primary development platform for ''' | Microsoft has continued to promote .NET as its primary development platform for '''Windows''', shipping the '''.NET runtime''' with various Windows versions, starting from '''[[Windows XP]]'''. .NET is pre-installed in newer Windows versions, and '''[[Visual Studio Code]]''', a lightweight, cross-platform code editor, has become one of the most popular IDEs for .NET development. | ||
'''Mono''', the open-source implementation of .NET, allows '''[[C#History|C#]]''' and '''.NET applications''' to run on ''' | '''Mono''', the open-source implementation of .NET, allows '''[[C#History|C#]]''' and '''.NET applications''' to run on '''Linux''', '''macOS''', and '''[[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]]'''-based operating systems. Mono’s inclusion in these operating systems, and the cross-platform capabilities of .NET Core (now '''.NET 7'''), has further solidified .NET's presence outside Windows. | ||
== Java == | == Java == | ||
As of '''2023''', Java is not pre-installed on Windows or macOS. However, it remains widely available for installation on all major operating systems, including ''' | As of '''2023''', Java is not pre-installed on Windows or macOS. However, it remains widely available for installation on all major operating systems, including '''Windows, macOS, and Linux'''. Java is also bundled with many Unix-based commercial distributions, and the open-source '''[[OpenJDK]]''' has become the de facto standard implementation for Java development.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-06-20 |title=Rich Sharples’ Blog » Blog Archive » Java is finally Free and Open |url=http://blog.softwhere.org/archives/196 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=web.archive.org |archive-date=2008-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620065024/http://blog.softwhere.org/archives/196 |dead-url=yes }}</ref> | ||
OpenJDK is included in major '''[[Linux distribution|Linux distributions]]''' such as Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora. This version of Java is fully open-source, passing all compatibility tests, and it can run major applications like '''[[Eclipse]]''' and '''[[NetBeans]]'''. | OpenJDK is included in major '''[[Linux distribution|Linux distributions]]''' such as Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora. This version of Java is fully open-source, passing all compatibility tests, and it can run major applications like '''[[Eclipse]]''' and '''[[NetBeans]]'''. | ||
Latest revision as of 05:41, 25 July 2026
Template:Programming language comparisons
 | This article needs to be updated. (October 2013) |
Comparison of the Java and .NET platforms.
.NET
Open Source Evolution and Patent Issues
The Mono project, designed to offer a cross-platform implementation of .NET, initially sought to avoid patent or copyright issues. While it gained traction, the 2006 agreement between Microsoft and Novell provided partial legal protection to Novell's customers but did not address broader concerns about patents, leading the Free Software Foundation (FSF) to advise caution. The FSF's revised GNU General Public License (GPL) aimed to close loopholes Microsoft had exploited.[1][2][3]
The landscape changed in 2014 when Microsoft began open-sourcing many core .NET technologies under the Apache License and established the .NET Foundation. This led to the open-sourcing of ASP.NET MVC, Entity Framework, F#, Roslyn (C# and VB.NET compiler), and other frameworks. Microsoft's goal was to broaden .NET adoption across multiple platforms, including Linux and macOS. By June 2016, Microsoft released .NET Core 1.0, a lean, cross-platform version of .NET.[4][5]
By 2020, .NET Core evolved into .NET 5, and in subsequent years .NET 6 and .NET 7 were released, unifying the previously separate .NET Framework and .NET Core. The framework is now fully open-source, with active contributions from Microsoft and the broader community. .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) has further consolidated cross-platform capabilities, enabling developers to write applications that work on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS from a single codebase.[6][7][8]
Traditional Computer Applications
Desktop Applications
Java's AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit) and Swing libraries offer extensive features but have not significantly impacted the desktop market. In 2006, Java 6.0 was released, emphasizing desktop integration, followed by JavaFX, which aimed to compete with technologies like Adobe Flash by providing a modern framework for building rich client applications.
However, .NET remains the more popular framework for developing desktop applications on Windows, offering Windows Forms, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), and previously Silverlight. With tight integration into the Windows platform, .NET applications benefit from a native look and feel.[9][10]
Java has made inroads with the Standard Widget Toolkit (SWT), particularly in environments like Eclipse, but Swing and AWT have not reached the same level of desktop adoption.
Server Applications
In server applications, Java and .NET continue to compete closely. Java EE (now Jakarta EE) and ASP.NET remain strong contenders in building web-based dynamic content and applications.[11]
As of 2023, Jakarta EE has evolved under the Eclipse Foundation and continues to serve large-scale enterprise applications. Meanwhile, ASP.NET Core has seen widespread adoption due to its performance improvements and cloud-native capabilities.
In terms of market share, Java and .NET remain dominant players. While Java previously had stronger adoption in the enterprise server space, ASP.NET Core has made significant strides in modern cloud and microservice architectures. Both platforms support containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration tools like Kubernetes.
Embedded Applications
Mobile Applications
Android, one of the most significant mobile platforms, continues to be heavily based on Java. However, over time, Kotlin has become the primary language for Android development due to its more modern features and better integration with the Android ecosystem. Android's Dalvik virtual machine and later ART diverged from standard Java implementations, but Java remains an important language in Android development.
Microsoft has invested heavily in cross-platform mobile development through Xamarin, which it acquired in 2016. By 2023, .NET MAUI (an evolution of Xamarin) allows developers to write cross-platform applications for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows using a single codebase in C#. This has made .NET a more viable competitor in mobile development.
Home Entertainment Technologies
Java has found a niche in digital television and Blu-ray players, particularly through the BD-J interactive platform, which was accepted as the official tool for Blu-ray disc development. Java's presence in set-top boxes and digital TV has also expanded, with applications like TiVo's Home Media Engine using Java-based extensions.
The alternative, HDi, developed by Microsoft and Disney for the defunct HD DVD format, used a combination of XML, CSS, and JavaScript. However, HD DVD's failure left BD-J as the primary interactive platform for high-definition media.
Runtime Inclusion in Operating Systems
.NET/Mono
Microsoft has continued to promote .NET as its primary development platform for Windows, shipping the .NET runtime with various Windows versions, starting from Windows XP. .NET is pre-installed in newer Windows versions, and Visual Studio Code, a lightweight, cross-platform code editor, has become one of the most popular IDEs for .NET development.
Mono, the open-source implementation of .NET, allows C# and .NET applications to run on Linux, macOS, and BSD-based operating systems. Mono’s inclusion in these operating systems, and the cross-platform capabilities of .NET Core (now .NET 7), has further solidified .NET's presence outside Windows.
Java
As of 2023, Java is not pre-installed on Windows or macOS. However, it remains widely available for installation on all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Java is also bundled with many Unix-based commercial distributions, and the open-source OpenJDK has become the de facto standard implementation for Java development.[12]
OpenJDK is included in major Linux distributions such as Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora. This version of Java is fully open-source, passing all compatibility tests, and it can run major applications like Eclipse and NetBeans.
The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) can still be downloaded as a web plugin, but the plugin’s size has been a common critique. However, Java’s support for Rich Internet Applications (RIA), combined with improvements in Java 6 that introduced a new consumer JRE edition, has somewhat mitigated these criticisms.
See also
References
- ↑ "Microsoft and Novell Collaboration, follow - Miguel de Icaza". tirania.org. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ↑ "OpenText Press Room & News". OpenText. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ↑ "ASP.NET | Mono". www.mono-project.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ↑ "Microsoft claims software like Linux violates its patents - May 28, 2007". money.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ↑ "Microsoft still open sources more technologies than many think". ZDNET. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ↑ "F# Software Foundation". fsharp.org. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ↑ "Projects". DotNetFoundation. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ↑ "Xamarin partners with Microsoft to deliver .NET everywhere | CITEworld". web.archive.org. 2014-09-01. Archived from the original on 2014-09-01. Retrieved 2024-09-26.CS1 maint: Unfit url (link)
- ↑ "Mono Applications? Aplenty! – OSnews". Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ↑ "Mono Applications? Aplenty! – OSnews". Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ↑ "Usage Survey of Server-side Programming Languages broken down by Ranking". w3techs.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ↑ "Rich Sharples' Blog » Blog Archive » Java is finally Free and Open". web.archive.org. 2008-06-20. Archived from the original on 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
External links
- Moving to C# and the .NET Framework at MSDN
- ECMA-335 Common Language Infrastructure (CLI), 4th edition (June 2006) - free download of Ecma CLI standard
- ISO/IEC 23271:2006 Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) Partitions I to VI - the official ISO/IEC CLI standard
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