2 non-related questions - .NET and non-PC programming

[Khaled]

hi all,
the first question is about .NET, I thought what does M$ benefit from paying
all that money on the .NET research, marketing, ..etc. what do they gain
from that if .NET can be reimpleented by another company, like Ximian is
doing in Mono (www.go-mono.com) ? what control will they gain when developers
targeting .NET can use other platforms that Windows for their development,
and target other platforms by their products ?

the second question is that I want to take an idea about non-PC programming,
(e.e robotics like the previous question on the forum) can be done in C++
, any websites ? I want to know to control some robot like machines? does
it come through a PC program ? do I have to know about the H/W ? how can
I 'run' the program ?

thanx.

[jonnin]

"Khaled" <khm@link.net> wrote:
>
>hi all,
>the first question is about .NET, I thought what does M$ benefit from paying
>all that money on the .NET research, marketing, ..etc. what do they gain
>from that if .NET can be reimpleented by another company, like Ximian is
>doing in Mono (www.go-mono.com) ? what control will they gain when developers
>targeting .NET can use other platforms that Windows for their development,
>and target other platforms by their products ?
>
Visual/.net is one of the most used compilers out there. Windows is the most
popular and probably the most used os (depends on what you call an os!)
They gain a lot of money selling a compiler for the most used os... And
they don't care what linux or the others do because its not a significant
share of the market. Its all about the money...
Same with word. There are 6-7 good, usable free alternatives to word, but
they are not reliable in a business (or not free for a business) so word
continues to dominate... and normal users tend to use at home what they have
at work and school...

>the second question is that I want to take an idea about non-PC programming,
>(e.e robotics like the previous question on the forum) can be done in C++
>, any websites ? I want to know to control some robot like machines? does
>it come through a PC program ? do I have to know about the H/W ? how can
>I 'run' the program ?
>
The program talks to a port or external device, which sends signals down
a wire that the robot understands. You *can* make a custom board that attaches
to the motherboard in a slot, its expensive to do this. The programming
is not bad in windows unless you need real time... Yes you need to at least
know how to talk to a serial port or the like (libs really, you can go low
level and will if you need speed or exotic interface) you run the program
by clicking on it quickly twice...
I assume an established os will have these tools as well...









>thanx.

[Eddie]

Hi Khaled,
About the websites, a good source of research is <www.webopedia.com>, you
can find it pretty useful when you need answers for PCs,electronics and programming
questions. Try to find some books relating C/C++ using micro controllers
and try to gather some informations of PLC ( a language used by electricians
and electronic technician to design and operate industrial robots.)

Have fun

Eddie