There is currently so much noise regarding Mono on the Linux desktop that it is really annoying. And according to some sources most of the noise is not really related to facts, but “what ifs” and then some.
I don’t want to go down that path. Since listening to the Linux Action Show I have spent some time discussing with my self on this matter, and I have come to a little conclusion:
I believe that Mono/C#/.Net could be the programming language, and the IDE-tool that could bring more Windows applications over to the Linux side. I also want to use Mono to create C#-applications. For one because I find the IDE intuitive and I like what the guys in the project has done.
I just read a Twitter-post saying that the developer opened a Visual Studio solution file in Mono and it converted without any problems. That is interesting. Being a part-time journalist with lots of pictures to go through, I have been accustomed to use Fotoware Fotostation. This Photo management program is superior to any competitor – and I am not thinking of programs like f-Spot and Picasa which I believe are directed towards amateurs or home photographers. From what I understand Fotostation is written in C#. What if Fotoware started using Mono. Then their application could be used on the Windows platform (which it is already of course), Apple and Linux. That would mean that I could remove of yet another application that I only use under Windows from my list.
I also like Bruce Byfields suggestion on how to solve the controversy in his post titled “Let’s Settle the Mono Debate”. Which in short is: Let others who are not involved in the Mono project or are Mono haters – in other words – people who are neutral and have experience dealing with Microsoft, deal with this topic.
