.net open source with choice of working platform
We were asked to look into a fully open source solution for a large project, they want the project to be as close to 100% Open Source as possible, mainly because since a community project may have very little money in the future, except for the host. Using the OS software saves on license costs as the server will be managed by an existing IT systems team.
One vendor offers .net as part of the system, and I am well aware that .net applications may well be released under open source licenses such as the GPL, etc.
However, since I am not a .net developer, I am a little confused when it comes to what the powers of .net are. Should it be a Windows server, which of course leads to higher server costs and bindings to MS products, or is it possible to run .net applications on open source servers like Linux, etc.
Please do not turn this into an MS Vs Linux argument and benefits or use of one or the other. We just want to make sure we are fully informed when it comes to using .net and how it can be open. I hope to open my eyes.
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Like the others, Mono exists, but given its immaturity, this is not only an additional layer of complexity, but an additional layer of risk. Also, a vendor offering a .NET solution is unlikely to want to support their application on Apaches + Mono.
So, either choose OSS (Apache + PHP / Perl / Python / Ruby, etc.) or choose IIS + .NET. There is nothing wrong with choosing a .NET solution if it's the best application for the job, but don't try to tailor an application that targets one platform to another.
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"True" .NET only works on Windows. However, the Mono project allows applications written for .NET to run on Linux (and other platforms) as long as there are no compatibility issues, Mono has a compatibility checker that can help you take a quick look at how many problems you are likely to have. have, but I don't have experience with it myself. There is also a Portability Guide page which can be very helpful.
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I think you will find that the open source community and scope of the selection shift is much larger in non-Microsoft environments. While you can use Mono to run .Net on Linux, you are probably just adding another layer of unnecessary complexity.
Also, don't forget to estimate the true cost of choosing open source solutions. There may not be a community to support the software you choose, and you might end up spending as much time and money on maintenance as you would otherwise.
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In addition to some of the previous answers; some other Mono details:
The compiler targeting .NET 2.0 and 3.5 is currently NOT the default compiler . For me this assumes an immature platform. If you're starting a new project, being able to leverage everything the .NET platform has to offer reliably, that's a huge plus. IMHO Mono doesn't bring this to the table if you need to nudge the .NET framework towards it in a constraint / edge case.
Mono is sponsored by Novell, which speaks of its potential longevity as a platform.
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Does this vendor have real experience with mono on an open source operating system? Or just with .net on windows? What about your system guys? You probably don't want to force them into something new that they don't support.
You are not very knowledgeable about the license. The GPL is incompatible with some others. Please consult a professional.
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