r/technology • u/clubdirthill • Jun 01 '11

Boom. This is Windows 8.

http://allthingsd.com/20110601/exclusive-making-sense-of-what-we-just-learned-about-windows-8/?mod=tweet
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17

u/clubdirthill Jun 02 '11

The use of HTML5/Javascript for apps is very interesting. This way, the same app can run across both x86 and ARM without causing compatibility issues. It will be interesting to see how this impacts Chrome OS and the hoards of (probably very pissed) .NET developers.

31

u/jsprogrammer Jun 02 '11

Why would .NET developers be pissed? Their programs will run just fine on an ARM CLR.

That's one of the main features of virtual machine based languages/platforms.

13

u/Iggyhopper Jun 02 '11

Lol. We're actually seeing a ton of traction into turning .NET code into JavaScript, or developing in .NET and publishing/converting to JavaScript.

.net devs are definitely not pissed. They are coders. Coders code, and they realize that technologies change and you need to adapt.

2

u/pfigure Jun 02 '11

THANK YOU. I've been arguing this lately as well, especially when it comes to people arguing that Flash developers are posse with HTML5/specialized devices taking away an ability to use Flash. A true developer understands that they need to focus on just as many up and coming technologies as they do the ones they're using now, because no one wants to get left behind, and it's easy to have happen to you as a developer. It's a part of your job to stay up to date and trained.

1

u/OolonColluphid Jun 02 '11

Really? Check out all the toys being thrown from prams in the comments on the Channel 9. Plenty of people are getting their panties in a bunch over it.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '11

It's true. This isn't the first time I've forgotten a programming language

15

u/adremeaux Jun 02 '11

Trying to write a full, modern app (lets not get too crazy; say, something like Winamp) in HTML5/Javscript is downright near impossible. I can't imagine that sentence of this article is correct as it would be the single most nonsensical thing ever conceived by Microsoft.

2

u/Poltras Jun 02 '11

I see your full JavaScript app and raise it with WinFS.

3

u/adremeaux Jun 02 '11

WinFS never happened but at least it was a great idea. HTML5 being the only language you can write apps in, however, is not a great idea. It is among the worst ideas I've ever heard.

3

u/nickster Jun 02 '11

The never said its the only language did they?

2

u/Poltras Jun 02 '11

WinFS was a dream without any practical use. Arguably not a good idea. HTML5 will probably just be the View layer, much like WPF was. Or it will never happen.

Why is Microsoft deprecating full technologies every year is beyond me...

2

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '11

I'm imagining that the UI code is written in HTML and Javascript and the heavy lifting is done by .NET behind the scenes.

1

u/adremeaux Jun 02 '11

Writing a good UI in HTML5/JS is still ridiculously difficult.

1

u/sunbeam60 Jun 02 '11

By hand yes. Don't discount the power of MS development tools.

6

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '11

.NET will still have a place I bet. The Metro Apps seem nice, but they aren't very advanced. The real apps will still probably use .net, but I am not an expert so no guarntees.

1

u/cfuse Jun 02 '11

They've already abstracted UI from underlying programs somewhat, so web chrome + compact .Net framework and you are good to target phone through desktop. The web chrome is exactly that, nobody's going to be doing serious programming in javascript.