HELP:Cross-Platform

Hey guys,
What are the powerful developer tools where you can write Cross-Platform applications?
I've read about Mono and Python but I am not able to read all of the features because of lack of time.

Thanks, ;)

Are you looking for run-time portability or compile-time portability?

Run-time portability is generally only achieved using a JIT compiler (Java, .NET etc.) or a scripting environment; whereas compile-time portability can be achieved in languages such as C/C++ which allow conditional compilation using pre-processor instructions (and are not tied to one platform, such as VB).

Cross-platform C++ applications are usually built against conditionally compiled libraries, so that the application logic is abstracted from the runtime environment.

I think it is runtime portability.

Is it possible to write an application from 1 platform then can be installed to other platforms.
e.g. I created an application in MS Windows, is it possible to deploy it in Linux or MacOS?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eSPiYa

Is it possible to write an application from 1 platform then can be installed to other platforms.
e.g. I created an application in MS Windows, is it possible to deploy it in Linux or MacOS?

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As stated above, it depends on the language you're using to write it.

chem

Well, run-time portability means you can use the same binary/script file on any supported platform. A .NET binary is run-time portable because you can run it either on Windows with the .NET Framework or Linux/Mac with Mono. A script file would be similar but it requires the script interpreter for that language on that platform. PHP applications are run-time portable because the same PHP files are used on any platform with a PHP interpreter installed.

Compile-time portability means you have one set of source code, but it can be compiled to target any of the supported platforms. You will need the platform-specific binary to run the application.

So your question in post #4 could be answered by either of those depending on whether you want to issue separate platform-specific binaries or not.

Remember even with a .NET application you still have to be careful not to use any platform-specific code like Registry access that won't work on Mono. Generally speaking if you target the Mono compiler then the apps will run on the Windows framework with fewer problems since Mono has a narrower scope and not so much platform-specific stuff (if any).

Likewise you can write the app in C++ using platform abstraction libraries (like wxWidgets for GUI development) and can compile it for Windows or Linux/Mac.

It basically is all dependent on how abstract your code is and that you're careful to use concepts that are applicable on any platform.

Thanks a lot for your help guys.
I already tried mono last night.
I created a simple form w/ the wx.NET.dll then deployed it in MacOSX.
I still got some errors but I know it is possible.

Maybe I'll use it in some of my future projects (I need this for the 3DGames that we are planning to develop).

Thanks,