porting to Linux

  • Thread starter Thread starter Julie
  • Start date Start date
J

Julie

Hi, I'm trying to figure out what would be involved in porting my
C# .NET application from Windows to Linux. It uses Windows Forms, so
basically would I have to change all of the Windows Forms code to some
sort of Linux GUI development code?

I found an IDE called MonoDevelop that allows to you develop/run .NET
applications on Linux. Are there other IDE options or just this?

Thanks,
Julie
 
Hi, I'm trying to figure out what would be involved in porting my
C# .NET application from Windows to Linux. It uses Windows Forms, so
basically would I have to change all of the Windows Forms code to some
sort of Linux GUI development code?

I found an IDE called MonoDevelop that allows to you develop/run .NET
applications on Linux. Are there other IDE options or just this?
Click to expand...

The IDE does not matter much.

You need a C# compiler and a runtime.

Mono is the best choice for that.

There are other but Portable.NET is not good.

Then you need something to write the code in, but you don't have
to use MonoDevelop. You can pick Eclipse with Emonic plugin. Or you
can use your favorite general purpose editor on Linux: vim, Emacs,
NEdit, JEdit or whatever.

Mono somewhat support Win Forms so you can give it a try.

If it does not work then switch to GTK# - it works on both
Linux and Windows.

Arne
 
The IDE does not matter much.

You need a C# compiler and a runtime.

Mono is the best choice for that.

There are other but Portable.NET is not good.

Then you need something to write the code in, but you don't have
to use MonoDevelop. You can pick Eclipse with Emonic plugin. Or you
can use your favorite general purpose editor on Linux: vim, Emacs,
NEdit, JEdit or whatever.

Mono somewhat support Win Forms so you can give it a try.

If it does not work then switch to GTK# - it works on both
Linux and Windows.

Arne
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response!
Do you have a preference between MonoDevelop, Eclipse, and GTK#? Are
all Open source?
I guess I need a better idea about what from WindowsForms Mono
actually supports, if anybody knows.

Julie
 
The IDE does not matter much.

You need a C# compiler and a runtime.

Mono is the best choice for that.

There are other but Portable.NET is not good.

Then you need something to write the code in, but you don't have
to use MonoDevelop. You can pick Eclipse with Emonic plugin. Or you
can use your favorite general purpose editor on Linux: vim, Emacs,
NEdit, JEdit or whatever.

Mono somewhat support Win Forms so you can give it a try.

If it does not work then switch to GTK# - it works on both
Linux and Windows.

Arne
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response!
Do you have a preference between MonoDevelop and Eclipse? Are
both Open source? How do they compare to the functionality offered by
Visual Studio .NET?
I guess I need a better idea about what from WindowsForms Mono
actually supports, if anybody knows.
 
Julie explained on 7/19/2010 :
Thanks for the response!
Do you have a preference between MonoDevelop, Eclipse, and GTK#? Are
all Open source?
I guess I need a better idea about what from WindowsForms Mono
actually supports, if anybody knows.

Julie
Click to expand...

I personally develop mono apps in MonoDevelop and vim. They now have a
mono tools for Visual Studio - but I haven't tried it. But, it allows
you to run and debug with the mono runtime and to try your stuff in a
linux vm.

Winforms support is fairly good - for the standard core stuff, though
it is not 100% (I believe it's around 95% support for winforms 2.0).

If your using standard controls, no 3rd party or COM controls and
aren't doing any subclassing type stuff - then there is a farily good
chance your UI will work. You'll just have to try and compile and see.

You might want to start here:
http://www.mono-project.com/Guide:_Porting_Winforms_Applications

MoMA would definatly be a good thing for you - it will help you find
some of the issues you may incounter early. For instance, use of
P/Invoke, COM, unsupported libraries, etc.

Anyway, HTH
 
Julie explained on 7/19/2010 :








I personally develop mono apps in MonoDevelop and vim.  They now have a
mono tools for Visual Studio - but I haven't tried it.  But, it allows
you to run and debug with the mono runtime and to try your stuff in a
linux vm.

Winforms support is fairly good - for the standard core stuff, though
it is not 100% (I believe it's around 95% support for winforms 2.0).

If your using standard controls, no 3rd party or COM controls and
aren't doing any subclassing type stuff - then there is a farily good
chance your UI will work.  You'll just have to try and compile and see.

You might want to start here:http://www.mono-project.com/Guide:_Porting_Winforms_Applications

MoMA would definatly be a good thing for you - it will help you find
some of the issues you may incounter early.  For instance, use of
P/Invoke, COM, unsupported libraries, etc.

Anyway, HTH
Click to expand...

Wow, very helpful! Thank you! I will definitely look into trying MoMA.
 
Thanks for the response!
Do you have a preference between MonoDevelop, Eclipse, and GTK#? Are
all Open source?
Click to expand...

All 3 are open source.

I have never tried MonoDevelop. Its reputation is not good.

Eclipse with Emonic is usuable but definitely not great.
I guess I need a better idea about what from WindowsForms Mono
actually supports, if anybody knows.
Click to expand...

You can check here:
http://go-mono.com/status/

But it is probably quicker to build something and see how it runs
on Linux !

Arne
 
Do you have a preference between MonoDevelop and Eclipse?
Click to expand...

I have only tried Eclipse.

Based on what I have heard about MonoDevelop, then I would go
for Eclipse!

But I suggest that you try both and make your own conclusion.
Are
both Open source?
Yes.

How do they compare to the functionality offered by
Visual Studio .NET?
Click to expand...

VS is way better.
I guess I need a better idea about what from WindowsForms Mono
actually supports, if anybody knows.
Click to expand...

Try it !

Arne
 
After serious thinking Arne Vajhøj wrote :
I have only tried Eclipse.

Based on what I have heard about MonoDevelop, then I would go
for Eclipse!
Click to expand...

The latest versions aren't too bad :) It used to be very unstable. To
be honest, I actually code more in vim when working with mono then
monodevelop.
But I suggest that you try both and make your own conclusion.


VS is way better.
Click to expand...

They have a new mono plugin for vs. Probably should try it out
sometime :)
 
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