----- Original Message ----- From: "Amol Hatwar" rollacosta@phreaker.net To: linuxers@mm.ilug-bom.org.in Sent: Friday, November 15, 2002 6:20 PM Subject: Re: [ILUG-BOM] [OT] Ignorance is bliss
The term .NET is confusing, you are refering to the passport and other services. Speaking technically correctly .NET is an initiative... that promises a lot of things. The Linux/Windows interoperability that I am talking of here is one of them.
DotNet is not just a strategy, it is also a family of products. It includes a set of 6 powerful (in comparison with earlier versions, at least), server software (System + Application) platforms. Passoport is one of the services (not product) which is, again, running on DotNet Server software platform. In fact, passport is a proof of concept for microsoft, apart from being another marketing tool to bind customers to microsoft in future. The idea was to provide the power and infrastructure that will be used in computing by corporates in future. They actually created a major problem for themselves by trying to use an "umbralla brand" and calling every thing DotNet, the strategy, services and products.
The move to port dotnet to linux platform is another version of the same
Like I said .NET is NOT a product that you install... its an initiative... comprising of a multitude of products and services. Porting... is some
other
question.
I was refering to the DotNet Server Software and the DotNet Framework including Microsoft Intermediate Language. These will ensure that all software designed for running on the dotnet server and those made with Microsoft Visual Studio .Net RAD tools will work on linux. Dont underestimate this move.
hedging......in case linux becomes more popular on the server front, software designed on dotnet platform will run even if the server is
running
linux, and the desktops are windows. Believe me, they will finalise and complete the codes to production level only if linux becomes too popular
at server level.......Otherwise, it will remain "experimental"
Which OS do you think has the upperhand in server markets now? :D
True, Linux has a lead in the server market, specially in large and very large applications, webservers, etc. But Windows is catching on faster than you realise. Futher, dont forget that there is another fast growing server market, which is servers used by (small, medium and large) enterprises for internal use and normal office operations. This is the one where microsoft is looking to grow. This is a market which is not a strong linux base as such.
You may want to know more about how GNU is replying and strengthening its ante at http://dotgnu.org
I have not doubt that GNU\Linux community is not sitting idle. But I dont think many people realise how fast MS is moving and also that corporate world is not in many cases (and unfortunately too) uninterested or scared to move to linux. (I plan to visit that site just now)
regards Saswata