Question about .NET Compatibility

[Silvatikus]

I am working on an application which should be able to run on a newly installed Windows XP - without .NET installed. The problem is, I don't know which language to use for it. I would prefer to do it in C#, as I have the most experience with it. However, I heard that C# applications require .NET in order to run. Is this true ? If yes, do VB .NET aplications also require .NET ? What language do you recommend ?

 

[JohnH]

All managed languages (VB, C#, mC++, J#, JScript) requires the .Net library and runtime. Normally such apps are deployed with an installer that detects and installs prerequisites if needed. Only native C++ apps can run without any prerequisites or runtime. It is also possible to run lightweight tasks with a VBS or JS script or even a batch DOS script. With knowledge of C# it is easier for you to learn C++ because the syntax is not very different.

 

[Silvatikus]

Thanks JohnH, but can you please tell me what's the difference between mC++ (the one you said requires the .NET library and runtime) and VC++ ? Also, what do you understand by "native C++" ?

 

[JohnH]

mC++ is my abbrev for "managed C++", a C++ app that uses and is compiled for .Net. Native C++ is plain old C++ that does not use .Net, it compiles to native code that is executed directly by OS. VS distinguishes these by "CLR" projects and "Win32" projects.

 

[Silvatikus]

So can I create a native C++ windows application in VS ?

 

[JohnH]

Yes, you can do that.

 

[Silvatikus]

Can you please tell me how ?

 

[JohnH]

Read post 4 again, ask in C++ forums.