Re: [dhis2] Java, .NET & Mono

[<kn...@ya...>]

 --- Calle Hedberg <che...@te...> skrev: 
> Hi,
> 
> Even if the DHIS2 project is Java-based, we cannot and should not
> disregard
> the .NET framework (most developers find a considerably more
> efficient
> development framework than Java) given the fact that Novell is
> developing
> Mono to allow the running of .NET software on Linux. I've already
> seen two
> health information applications using .NET, and at least one of them
> will
> probably be Open Source (an Electronic TB Register software
> application
> developed in South Africa).

Excellent point. .NET is spreading fast, and Mono is indeed an exciting
development, bringing the framework to the Open Source world. If it
catches on among Linux programmers in the way PHP has done, it will be
impossible to ignore. Interaction between Java and .NET is becoming an
important issue - web services is one way.

> Mono 1.0 has just been released. I've just had initial feedback from
> one
> person (Greg Rudman from Soft Craft) who's had a look at it, and his
> initial
> reaction was lukewarm. Seems to be problems, it's difficult to set up
> etc.
> 
> It's early days, of course, so you don't expect Novell to hit a home
> run at
> first try. The Mono roadmap also indicate that all libraries for the
> .net
> framework 1.1 won't be available before some time in 2005.

Right. It is too early to tell whether it will be a full replacement
for .NET, and some uncertainty remains with regard to what action MS
might take with regard to patents etc.

> Is anybody else on this list monitoring/assessing .NET/Mono
> developments??

Personally, I feel it's a little too early for us to devote resources
to such an evaluation, given that we have our hands full absorbing
cutting edge Java technologies right now. But the applicability of Mono
to DHIS, or a comparison of the Java frameworks and Mono could probably
be interesting Master thesis topics. An extensive literature exists on
.Net of course, and books are starting to appear on Mono as well. I
have added a page on Mono to the Wiki:
http://jdhis.sourceforge.net/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Development/Mono 

Cheers,
Knut