Disapointed with .NET 3.5 requirement

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Jaures

Jan 29, 2009 0:40:18		I'm disapointed to see that the character builder uses the .NET 3.5 framework. It's not really useful but it makes it impossible to run it under wine. I know a port is out of the question (corporations never develop for Linux) but if it didn't use .NET, it would be runnable in wine.

Not sure if I'm gonna keep my subscription. I was really looking forward to a great character builder. But it's not worth the hassle of installing windows.

I really hope they won't use .NET 3.5 for the next programs they are developing (Game table, dungeon builder, etc.)
#2

miric

Jan 29, 2009 9:12:17 		I'm sorry, but as a professional programmer, .Net 3.5 is one of the best additions to the framework in its history. The language integrated query (LINQ) capabilities are by far the most well designed and useful features MS has ever published. While you 'could' do everything it provides without it, it makes some parts of development (SQL querys, XML DOM navigation, array manipulation) have identical code structure, and the only difference is the data source. This greatly adds in maintainability and increases productivity as there's only one API to learn to gain a rudimentary understanding of the code base.

Now if they're not using such functionality... then you have a valid point and it is as easy as setting back their targeted framework in their compilation. ;) I doubt it's that. I would expect the WOTC developers to be pretty on top of their game if they made this polished application.

I'm sorry Wine does not have support for 3.5. I'm sure their developers are hard at work trying to figure out a way to support it. But that was a choice you made going to a Unix based environment. Besides, as I understand, it isn't too hard to do a dual booting setup with Ubuntu and XP (not a unix expert by any means). And from a corporate perspective - they have deadlines to meet. Since they have already made their prospective user base install and use this framework, it would be nonsensical for them to take a step back and use older APIs.

Sucks, but I think your options are XP or another toolset.
#3

icedcrow

Jan 30, 2009 13:19:32 		I agree. As a developer, the .NET library is awesome.

It is what I do my own home tools in as well.