One neat feature that Visual C# has that I liked was the ability to define arbitray sections of code as Regions. Once a section of code is defined as a region you can “fold it up” just like you can with methods in Eclipse (Visual C# supports this as well). I can’t help but think that desire to fold up a whole section of code in your class might suggest that the class is to big but, putting that aside, I was happy to find a plug-in for Eclipse that provides the same exact “region” feature as Visual C#: Coffee-Bytes Platform Support
Well after a few weeks of messing around with Visual C#, I’ve decided to return to Java as the development language for RPG Audio Mixer. I was hitting too many walls with VC# that I had already climbed and conquered with Java. I also find Java documentation more abundant and helpful than C# documentation and books.
Work is continuing on RPG Audio Mixer.
Currently I am looking at possibly switching to Visual C# as the language to implement RPGAM with. I am still weighing the pros and cons of both Java and Visual C# as well as getting a feel of the development cycle using Visual C#. You can see the progress I’ve made so far here: http://flickr.com/photos/spilth/272714532/
So far I see the following pros for Visual C#:
- Building and Distributing is a lot easier. No need to learn Ant or Maven - just click Publish. No need to sign and include a number of UI and support libraries. I was able to install it on my work machien today without a hitch. Just zipped up the files, unzipped on my work machine and ran the setup.exe.
- Easier access to additional codecs. I’m using the Windows Media Player control so that gets me access to WAV, MP3 and WMA (including DRM’d files). It’s also trivial to add support for Ogg-Vorbis.
- I’m learning a new language.
And the following cons:
- No potential for a cross-platform application, though supposedly there is a .NET implementation for Linux.
- Requires a user to have .NET and Windows Media Player, though arguably there’s a better chance of somebody having these than Java and QuickTime of the Java Media Framework. .NET and WMP are also easier to distribute along with the application.
- I’m no longer doing Java. Just a personal con since I’ve invested so much time, effort and money into Java.
Anyways, just wanted you to know I was still here.