How to get started with .net...

[AmigaMan]

I'm a java programmer looking to get started in .Net. Do I need to have my boss buy Visual Studio .Net or is there a compiler for it that's free? I use Eclipse for most of my development work, is there a free, .Net equivalent? TIA!

 

[JetBlack69]

I believe there is a compiler that you can download free from microsoft for C#(don't know about VB.NET). It's a command line compiler if I remember correctly. Search their site.

 

[Descartes]

Download the .NET Framework SDK. That includes everything you need to get started, including a C# compiler, VB.NET compiler, ASP.NET, etc.

SharpDevelop is an open-source IDE written in C# that you might like.

 

[AmigaMan]

Thanks for the links. I used to be a VB developer before I switched over to Java a couple years ago, so is C# a lot like developing VB apps except using a Java-like language? I mainly use Java for server side/web applications, is C# suited to that or is it more focused on the desktop? I've never really gotten the hang of Java's AWT/Swing/SWT architecture, but I used to be pretty decent at VB forms and the like.

 

[oog]

While there are similarities to developing VB apps, the .NET class library is more like the libraries you have with Java. You can build server side/web components or desktop applications equally well.

 

[Descartes]

My suggestion would be to forget you ever knew VB and treat .NET like an entirely new platform, because it is.

Microsoft attempts to alleviate any pains in transitioning from VB to VB.NET/C#/etc., but it's my opinion that if you are going to learn a new platform, you should learn the new platform.