Microsoft is pretty smart here. They are positioning .NET as language agnostic, and have proof of that via the ability to write C#, VB.NET, C++ and compile into their IL. But, you can also write compilers that take <insert language here> and generate Java bytecode. So, there isn't really anything new here... it is all marketing.
I think a powerful feature of .NET is the ability to have an object written in C# extended in VB.NET, because everything becomes IL. Microsoft has had to tweak all of the languages so they can work within the IL boundaries. C++ isn't C++ it is *Managed* C++. VB.NET is *very* different to VB. J# is very different to Java. There is something nice about having the SDK available for all languages. When "the next Java" comes out, they can incorporate it and everyone who knows the .NET foundation classes will be able to start working. Everyone who has written their own classes or has access to cool third party classes can still use them too. In theory that is a great thing. The way that Java is positioned is "Java is now, and the future". .NET is positioned in a way where they can jump ship from C# into something else. What do you think? Dion _____________________________________________________________ Dion Almaer | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | voice: 720.304.3244 CustomWare | http://www.customware.com | fax: 360.242.0671 =========================================================================== To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "signoff EJB-INTEREST". For general help, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "help".
