Microsoft lessening commitment to IronPython and IronRuby

[Ben Finney]

Steven D'Aprano <steve-REMOVE-THIS at cybersource.com.au> writes:

> On Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:07:06 +1200, Gregory Ewing wrote:
> > Is there any way for a non-.NET program to access a .NET library? Or
> > is it necessary to drink the entire bottle of .NET kool-aid?
>
> http://www.mono-project.com/Main_Page

Anyone thinking of using Mono needs to be aware of the dangers of
software patents in general, and of .NET in paticular.

The copyright license for Mono is under free software terms. But that
gives no license at all for the patents. Novell, who have an exclusive
deal for those patents, happily encourages use of Mono by third parties.

The controversy has raged for a number of years. For more coverage than
you have time for, see <URL:http://techrights.org/wiki/index.php/Mono>.
The issue has polarised discussion, unfortunately, and there is a lot of
name-calling and hyperbole on the record now.

As the Mono site hints, the patent situation for .NET is *very* muddy.
Microsoft hold patents covering much of .NET, but have made a
(non-binding) “Community Promise” that applies to *some* parts of .NET
<URL:http://www.mono-project.com/Licensing#Patents>.

-- 
 \        “It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once.” |
  `\                                                       —David Hume |
_o__)                                                                  |
Ben Finney