Hi Damien,
All too true I'm a fraid. Security is actually one of the many reasons
why I want to begin distancing myself from .NET based code after
Mysteries of the Ancients is released. It is a nice API, got really nice
languages, but it also has its fair share of security problems as well.
The major security issue with these runtime languages like Java and .NET
is instead of being compiled to a native binary, as happens with a C++
application, they are compiled to an intermediate layer runtime
language, I.L. Code, which can be easily reverse engineered by anyone
who has the proper disassemblers and know how to pull it off. While
obfuscation helps scramble the I.L. code that is still no absolute
guarantee that someone can't crack that layer of protection too.
The other major hangup with the .NET languages is even though Windows
Vista comes with .NET 3.0 and Windows 7 comes with .NET 4.0 there are
still other managed libraries that don't come with the operating system
such as Managed DirectX, the XNA Framework, or SlimDX for example.
This results in the end user to install these missing components and to
trouble shoot what managed libraries are missing for your game or
application, and to upgrade and install them accordingly. With C++ you
often don't have this sort of problem.
If you have a C++ application and it supports DirectX 8 then the API is
already there on your system. Just install the game and go. No need to
fool around upgrading DirectX or hunting down missing managed libraries
and components. Of course if you use the XNA libraries for C++ you may
have to install those, but you can easily get them via the Windows
update service.
Then, there is the target platform issue with the express versions of
the .NET IDEs. If you use Visual Basic Express or Visual C# Express it
won't allow you to change the target platform. It defaults to an AnyCPU
setting which won't work on X64 systems if you link to a 32 byt managed
library like the XNA Framework, Managed DirectX, etc. You have to get
the Visual Studio Professional version to be able to change the target
platform in the IDE which sort of sucks seeing as X64 processors are
more popular than ever these days. With any C++ IDE Visual C++, gcc,
whatever it defaults to X86 which will run on X86 or X64 systems.
Damien C. Sadler wrote:
Hi Thomas,
I decided against the .net framework for several reasons.
For a start, I could never get to grips with the IDE interface.
For a second I always had trouble with .net based interfaces, as
screenreaders sometimes cannot recognise the class of the control that
is in focus. For example, it might just say OK instead of OK Button.
Although this doesn't hold true for games, with them being entirely
audio based, there's still the IDE.
Then there's the fact that .net software's code can be hacked into
unless you use some form of obfuscation. According to a friend who
also used vb.net on a temporary basis, there is a piece of software
out there that can decompile .net based software. I don't know if that
is because of the fact that most of the application is referencing
different class objects, but nevertheless I wouldn't want to go down
that road if I knew that my software could be hacked.
Regards,
Damien.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Ward"
<thomasward1...@gmail.com>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 3:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] X-Sight Interactive news
Hi Damien,
Yeah, I have the same problem here. Even though I had C++ in college
and have used it for some Linux software development once I began
using C# .NET for game development it is hard to go back to C++.
Although, one of my projects, USA Raceway, is actually being written
in C++, and just feels wierd not being able to depend on the .NET
Framework for the better string classes etc.
Damien C. Sadler wrote:
Hi Thomas,
That's just what my recommender told me. That's why I have
completely removed VB from my system so's I don't get tempted with
my old ways again *smile*.
Regards,
Damien.
---
Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org
If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to
gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org.
You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at
http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org.
All messages are archived and can be searched and read at
http://www.mail-archive.com/gam...@audyssey.org.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the
list,
please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
---
Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org
If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to
gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org.
You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at
http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org.
All messages are archived and can be searched and read at
http://www.mail-archive.com/gam...@audyssey.org.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the
list,
please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
---
Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org
If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org.
You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at
http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org.
All messages are archived and can be searched and read at
http://www.mail-archive.com/gam...@audyssey.org.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list,
please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
