«^»
15. Some conclusions

I'll cheat. In his article for JavaWorld ([5]), Mark Johnson concludes as follows.

‘If I were a Windows developer, I would be rejoicing at the creation of C#. It is much easier to use than C++, and yet is more full featured than Visual Basic. MFC programmers, in particular, should flock to this tool. It seems likely that C# will become a major language for developing under the Windows platform. Because of C# creator Anders Hejlsberg's excellent track record, I expect the language to live up to its promises, assuming that Microsoft delivers an implementation that does so. C# solves most of the same problems with C++ that Java solved five years ago, usually in the same way. C# also solves the business problems that Microsoft encountered when it found it could embrace and extend Java, but not extinguish it. And, if Microsoft marketing is to be believed, COM will finally be usable. C# itself is not particularly innovative: there is little in this language that has not been seen before. Still, its skillful combination of these well-understood features will provide good value to Windows programmers. Of course, those not wanting to limit themselves to Windows can still choose from among the many exceleent implementations of Java for Windows.’

‘Because of its lack of platform neutrality, C# is in no way a "Java killer." Even leaving aside Sun's five-year head start, and Java's successful capture of the "gorilla" (market-owning) position among enterprise server languages, C#'s Achilles' heel is that it is tied to Windows. Of course, in theory it isn't. But widespread cross-platform implementation of C# is like widespread multivendor implementation of Win32 and COM: possible, in theory.’

‘High-technology consumers today, and especially IT managers, are appropriately wary of vendor lock-in. Encoding procedural information assets in a way that ties them to a particular vendor is a Faustian bargain. The Java platform is neutral with respect to operating systems. If you don't like the service you are getting from one vendor, or if your needs change, you can find another vendor that better meets your requirements. It will be some time before that can be said of C# or .Net. In short, while C# is a fine language for Windows programming, it will be able to compete with Java only when C# is freed from its Windows dependence. For the time being, C# users still won't get to decide where they're going today.’