[RESOLVED] When do I start using C#

[szlamany]

When is C# used?

I'm writing unmanaged string manipulation functions in C++ right now - and calling them from VB code (using VS 2010).

The VB code is needed for the httplistener and other I/O requirements.

What could be needed to get the httplistener code into C++? Would that be where I would use C#?

[jmcilhinney]

C# is not a bridge between VB and C++. If you want to write managed C++ code then you would use C++/CLI, which is basically C++.NET. C# is basically just an alternative to VB.NET with basically all the same features but a C-based syntax instead of a VB-based syntax.

It actually may be the case that you could replace your unmanaged code with C#. The one genuine advantage that C# has over VB.NET is support for pointers. As such, you may be able to write your string manipulation code in C# and then either reference that assembly in a VB.NET app ro simply write the whole app in C#.

[szlamany]

Thank you for that clarification - it's certainly a complex C story that goes on here in the MS world...

If I wanted to stay with C++ - and not go to C# - would I work with httplisteners by delving into the windows api documentation?

Also - seems to me that managed vs unmanaged is basically how the runtime deals with memory and such - is there more to the distinction?

[szlamany]

Actually found a nice explanation here

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...-cb92d2008a29/

I'm going to mark this thread resolved as C# is not where I am looking to move into...

Thanks!