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Topic: Software Development

Mono going mobile with Visual Studio

Summary: Mono is going to make embedding easier, so people can bundle Mono with application and devices

Dana Blankenhorn

By Dana Blankenhorn for Linux and Open Source |

With Mono Tools for Visual Studio 2.0, Mono said it has created an easy way for .Net developers to build apps for the iPhone and (soon) Android platform.

The Novell-based open source project has also built itself a revenue stream, since unlike the basic project Mono is paid software.

What you download is just a 30 day trial. The individual version costs $99, there's a $249 version for enterprise developers, and a $2,499 version that also includes licenses to re-distribute Mono on Windows, Linux and the Mac.

With some of that revenue Mono will finish work on Version 2.0 of its open source project, which is designed to work with Microsoft .Net 4.0.

"That will have the run time features of 4.0, which was finalized in April. We're not too far behind at the core level, but some libraries take more time and are less important," Novell product manager Joseph Hill said.

As for the future, Mono is focused on mobile developers. "We're going to make embedding easier, so people can bundle Mono with application and devices," Hill said.

The original Mono Tools for Visual Studio was focused on building applications to run as appliances using SUSE Studio. But since then the focus has been on broadening the market, so a version for Red Hat shipped with Version 2.7 and one for Ubuntu is in the works.

Now the team which did a version for the Apple iTouch is working on one for the Droid, he said. "

Topics: Software Development, Mobility, Open Source

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19 comments
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  • Sorry. Won't touch Mono with a barge pole. Thanks

    nt
    Dietrich T. Schmitz, ~ Your Linux Advocate
    Reply Vote

    • Why not? It's open source and not connected with MS

      @Dietrich T. Schmitz, Your Linux Advocate
      What's your problem? .net is a great platform. I argue that it is better than java because you can pick your language. Python, Ruby, C#, C++, Delphi, Perl, Eiffel, Lisp, Fortran, Cobol and of course VB. There might be a smalltalk too. I'm sure there are others too.
      DevGuy_z
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Mono going mobile with Visual Studio

        @DevGuy_z <br><br>When MS can adopt GPLv2 then it might garner interest.
        Dietrich T. Schmitz, ~ Your Linux Advocate
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Mono going mobile with Visual Studio

        @DTS

        Can someone tell me if GPL can be applied to a language specification or CLR specification ? Or if GPL is only for source code ?

        As far as I know C# language specification and CLR specification is available under ECMA standards.
        1773
        Reply Vote

      • Because Mono is a patent bomb waiting to explode

        If you paid some attention, you will know that .NET is full of patented technologies for which Mono has ZERO/NONE/NADA licenses.
        wackoae
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Mono going mobile with Visual Studio

        @DevGuy_z You forgot APL :)
        podstolom
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Mono going mobile with Visual Studio

        @wackoae,

        As long as Mono adheres to the ECMA standard, developers that use the Mono framework won't be in any danger. If you like Java better, or you don't think that .NET has any advantages to other technologies on the Linux OS, then don't use it. Don't let anti-Microsoft FUD keep you from using it though.
        bmonsterman
        Reply Vote

      • Who the hell is talking about MS???

        @bmonsterman ECMA/ISO/IEC or any standard is not a license to patented technology. Just look at MPEG1 (ISO/IEC 11172), MPEG2 (ISO/IEC 13818-1) and MPEG4 (ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11).

        If you want an ECMA example, I will give you just one word: RAMBUS.
        wackoae
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Mono going mobile with Visual Studio

        @DevGuy_z

        Java has a range of languages as well.
        maethor
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Mono going mobile with Visual Studio

        Mono said it has created an<a href="http://www.macverse.com/"><font color="light&amp;height"> about it</font></a> is bank that <a href="http://cerdanyolablog.com/"><font color="light&amp;height">website</font></a> attacked from the <a href="http://www.davalodeli.com/"><font color="light&amp;height">site support</font></a> from any soldier <a href="http://youthroll.com/"><font color="light&amp;height">site</font></a> to the light <a href="http://www.sharonbourkewritings.net/"><font color="light&amp;height">home page</font></a> is great easy
        gorians
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Mono going mobile with Visual Studio

      @Dietrich T. Schmitz, Your Linux Advocate

      Agreed!

      Mono is a clear and present danger to FOSS.
      Tim Patterson
      Reply Vote

      • Not really

        Mono is a clear and present danger to the USER of Mono.

        Because Mono is an OSS, and as a project it has very little liability due to the non-for-profit status. But for the same reason, the USER will inherit all liabilities .... as it has being proven in the past.
        wackoae
        Reply Vote

    • Not like your touch will be missed to begin with

      nt
      LBiege
      Reply Vote

      • You miss the point.

        @LBiege <br>Do you honestly think the Linux Community doesn't understand GPL licensing issues?<br><br>Come on. Mono is a 'trap' waiting to be sprung on the unwitting.<br><br>This all flies in the face of one VERY creative developer, Miguel de Icaza, who, in spite of his brilliance, has crossed over to the 'other side' and compromised his principles.
        Dietrich T. Schmitz, ~ Your Linux Advocate
        Reply Vote

    • And why should anyone care?

      @Dietrich T. Schmitz, Your Linux Advocate <br><br>Linux is used by 2% of the market at best. Like anyone cares if some of its advocates don't like something.<br><br>Novell's big target isn't YOU - it's iPhone and iPad developers.
      TheWerewolf
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Mono going mobile with Visual Studio

      @bmonsterman

      From what I understand, Novell has a patent sharing agreement so at the very least the only concern isn't at the developers end but Novell distributing patented technology - given that Novell has a license to do so I am unsure why people are making a fuss.

      You noted about ECMA, IIRC it was the main developers of Mono who said that compatibility is an after thought with the ECMA being a great foundation on which to build a GNOME framework using open technologies - hence we see GTK# being pushed over Windows Forms etc.

      It is amazing the number who scream about mono and yet have spent zero time actually learning what the original motivations were and still are.
      Macintoshtoffy
      Reply Vote

  • Duplicate deleted by dts

    nt
    Dietrich T. Schmitz, ~ Your Linux Advocate
    Reply Vote

  • How will this play with the iOS4 'ObjC First/No Emulator' rule?

    Apple may have been targetting Flash with it - but it nails .Net dead center. Even recompilation to native won't get past it.

    I don't see how Novell can make a business case for embedded Mono on iOS4 unless Apple's changed the restriction.
    TheWerewolf
    Reply Vote

  • iPhone?

    Where on the mono develop site does it mention anything about iPhone? All I see is "non Windows platforms" - that doesn't necessarily mean iOS.

    If Apple can't stand people developing for iOS in Flash do you honestly believe they'll let an app written with a MS inspired platform into the App Store?
    maethor
    Reply Vote
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