REDMOND, Wash., June 26, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced Microsoft® C # (
“C sharp” ), a modern, object-oriented programming language built from the ground up to exploit the power of XML-based Web services on the .NET platform, which was announced last week at Forum 2000. With its Visual C++® development system heritage, C # will enable millions of C and C++ developers to use existing skills to rapidly build sophisticated XML-based .NET applications. To simplify integration and interoperability, Microsoft is working with ECMA, an international standards body, to create a standard for C # , enabling multiple vendors to deliver the language and supporting tools.
Full details about C # and related technologies, as well as an early technical preview release, will be provided at the upcoming Professional Developers Conference (PDC), July 11, in Orlando, Fla.
With its elegant object-oriented design, C # will be a great choice for developers building a wide range of high-performance Web applications and components — from XML-based Web services to middle-tier business objects and system-level applications. Based on modern, object-oriented principles, the language has been crafted to help developers accomplish more with fewer lines of code, and with fewer opportunities for error. Using C # , developers can easily build Web services that can be used across the Internet — from any language on any platform. While offering enhanced productivity, C # also enables complete access to the underlying platform, as well as low-level code control, giving developers the power to build complex business systems. Best of all, C # builds on the skills that many programmers and organizations have already developed, thus enabling improved time to market, reduced development cost, and the ability to keep pace with the rapidly changing world of the Web.
Microsoft has submitted the C # language specifications to ECMA for standardization. Standardizing C # will continue to drive broad industry support. Already, C # is being supported by dozens of industry partners, including Andersen Consulting, Fujitsu Software Corp., Pandesic LLC, Razorfish Inc., Seagate Software and USWeb/CKS, in addition to many other independent software vendors (ISVs), solution providers, systems integrators as well as book publishers, who have committed to producing books and training materials for developers.
“ECMA, a leading international standards body for information technology and corporate telecommunications, is pleased to consider the proposal from Microsoft to develop the standards for a new Internet programming language that can be implemented by vendors to run on any platform or device,”
said Jan van den Beld, secretary-general of the Geneva-based ECMA.
“We see excellent synergy between this proposal and our existing ECMAScript Standard (ECMA-262), which provides the scripting language for the World Wide Web. We consider it of critical importance that this technology follow a truly open standardization approach to ensure interoperability in an interconnected world.”
The C # language reference document, submitted to ECMA, is available online at http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/nextgen/ . C # will be included in the next generation of the Visual Studio® development system, to be available in beta release later this year.
Those interested in registering for the PDC, should visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/events/pdc/ .
The Microsoft Visual Studio development system includes a complete suite of award-winning tools for building scalable enterprise solutions. These tools provide comprehensive support for building all aspects of a multitier solution based on the Windows® DNA 2000 platform.
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