hmmm... I haven't has much work on C++/CLI, IMO it isn't too slow, but any pure managed code in .NET will have the same speed not matter the source language, because the .NET virtual machine runs IL, and that's what the IDE builds to. I think I have to say that in C++/CLI you are always using ".NET stuff" because of the virtual machine.
What happens is that the code runs in the virtual machine (being it .NET (from microsoft), Mono (from Novell) or any third party), so it's like Java in that sence (I'm not saying that the speed is the same as java's one, I think that .NET VM is faster than Javas's on Windows). Note: Running in virtual machines isn't unique for .NET and Java, C++ and VB had virtual machines long time before .NET was released, in particular I remember it was the only way for VB that created the myth of it being unposible to crack because the crakers were used to work on C++ x86 native code. You seem to be very worried about the speed, If I'm not wrong what you are looking for is a fast language, C++ like, that can use .NET. you have the option of export .NET to COM for windows platforms, or you may look for C# on Mono, AFAIK they are implementing a native code compiler for C#. Anyway leave Win32 API is a good idea even if that's not your case, because it brings a lot of problems, Microsoft will need us to let them kill Win32, and .NET was supposed to be the next step. In addition Mono makes out of .NET something portable too. I hope this answers your question. ~theraot
