Performance improvements and support for Windows.Forms makes the beta version of Mono 1.2 a powerful framework for hosting .NET applications on Linux
Novell today announced the beta program for Mono® 1.2, which now includes support for Microsoft* Windows.Forms to more easily port .NET client-side applications to Linux*. Other enhancements in this beta release include additional platform and hardware support, virtual machine upgrades, and enhanced Java* support, as well as significant performance, memory consumption and stability improvements. Mono is a Novell-sponsored open source implementation of the Microsoft .NET framework that helps corporate IT and ISV developers migrate existing .NET applications to Linux and develop new Linux and cross-platform applications with unprecedented productivity. Working within their existing skill sets, traditional Microsoft developers can use the Mono framework to effortlessly make their .NET desktop and server applications available to the fast-growing Linux market.
“Mono represents the 'holy grail' of software development,” said Steve Shreeve, CTO and co-founder of Medsphere. “Using Mono, we were able to develop a rich, cross-platform, point-of-care graphical user interface for OpenVista that enables clinicians to deliver better care to their patients. Now, our customers have the flexibility to choose the operating system that is right for them. As active contributors to the Mono project, we are also excited about the latest feature and performance enhancements in Mono 1.2. The new support for Windows.Forms significantly enhances cross-platform development and makes it even easier to build feature-rich applications for our demanding customers.”
With full Mono support for the Windows.Forms API, the graphical user interface portion of the Microsoft .NET development framework, developers can now bring their existing Microsoft-based client applications to Linux while significantly minimizing the time and effort required to migrate these applications. The inclusion of Windows.Forms capabilities in this beta version is a significant advancement in the expansion of the Mono project. Not only does it provide corporate IT and ISV developers with operating system alternatives for hosting existing .NET applications, but it also opens up the possibility of new desktop applications on Linux. In fact, Mono was used to develop a number of new desktop Linux applications, including Banshee music player, F-spot photo management tool, iFolder and Beagle™ desktop search, all to be included when Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 ships.
“With this beta version, we've solved an important issue by making it easier to translate the Microsoft user interfaces to Linux – an important contribution in increasing the number of client-side Linux applications,” said Miguel de Icaza, vice president of developer platforms at Novell and maintainer of the Mono project. “Now feature complete, Mono has matured to the point that we believe the migration from ASP.NET and Windows.Forms to Linux is easier than ever before and gives developers access to all the added benefits of Linux. Open to everyone, our beta program gives developers an opportunity to test the latest version and share their feedback.”
This beta release is compliant with and provides full support for .Net 1.1 and partial 2.0 support today. The Mono framework supports a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac* OS X, Solaris*, BSD and Windows*, and a variety of hardware options, such as x86, AMD* 64, IA- 64 (Itanium* 2), EMT 64, PowerPC, ARM, s390 and S390x, SPARC and SPARC v9, and numerous languages.
Developers can download the Mono framework and provide feedback to the beta version at http://www.mono-project.com.
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers Software for the Open Enterprise™. With more than 50,000 customers in 43 countries, Novell helps customers manage, simplify, secure and integrate their technology environments by leveraging best-of-breed, open standards-based software. With over 20 years of experience, more than 5,000 employees, 5,000 partners and support centers around the world, Novell helps customers gain control over their IT operating environment while reducing cost. More information about Novell can be found at http://www.novell.com.
Novell and Mono are registered trademarks, and Beagle and Software for the Open Enterprise are trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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