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The issue of it not being free is part of it, but there are some other reasons as well: -Not built in - python is included by default on all major Linux distro

The issue of it not being free is part of it, but there are some other reasons as well: -Not built in - python is included by default on all major Linux distros and OSX, as well. -Interpreted languages have instant gratification, which is helpful in encouraging beginners. -C# isn't often used for web programming, which many people on HN are focused on. And you do have a good point; once you start, you become miles ahead of never learning anything about programming.

HeyLaughingBoy 16y ago
C# is free: I use Visual Studio Express at home (both C# & C++) when I need to build a desktop app and there's nothing I've needed that it couldn't do. I see the issue as really being about what kind of programming you want to do. If I'm writing a Windows desktop app, my choice will be C# simply because it's easy, available and I don't need to learn a new GUI library. But it's the last thing I'd consider for a Web project. OK, not always the last thing. A week ago I did a quick experimental Web based interface for some hardware we build here at work. It was my first .ASP project and I was amazed at how trivial it was to make a .aspx page backed by C# connected to a COM object that talked to the motion controllers. Say what you will about Microsoft; they do make the go-path easy!
- retroafroman 16y ago
  It is available freely (free as in beer), but it's not an open source language (free as in freedom), which is the free I was referring to. Sorry about that ambiguity.
  - xorglorb 16y ago
    Actually C# (the language) is libre, it's an EMCA standard. The default implementation and IDE(the MS runtime & VS) is not libre, it's gratis, but Mono is fully free software (libre) and nearly fully compatible (both source and bytecode) with the MS runtime and will run on Windows, OS X and Linux.
    - retroafroman 16y ago
      I wasn't familiar with the language spec being open, thanks for pointing that out.

HeyLaughingBoy 16y ago

C# is free: I use Visual Studio Express at home (both C# & C++) when I need to build a desktop app and there's nothing I've needed that it couldn't do. I see the issue as really being about what kind of programming you want to do. If I'm writing a Windows desktop app, my choice will be C# simply because it's easy, available and I don't need to learn a new GUI library. But it's the last thing I'd consider for a Web project. OK, not always the last thing. A week ago I did a quick experimental Web based interface for some hardware we build here at work. It was my first .ASP project and I was amazed at how trivial it was to make a .aspx page backed by C# connected to a COM object that talked to the motion controllers. Say what you will about Microsoft; they do make the go-path easy!

retroafroman 16y ago
It is available freely (free as in beer), but it's not an open source language (free as in freedom), which is the free I was referring to. Sorry about that ambiguity.
- xorglorb 16y ago
  Actually C# (the language) is libre, it's an EMCA standard. The default implementation and IDE(the MS runtime & VS) is not libre, it's gratis, but Mono is fully free software (libre) and nearly fully compatible (both source and bytecode) with the MS runtime and will run on Windows, OS X and Linux.
  - retroafroman 16y ago
    I wasn't familiar with the language spec being open, thanks for pointing that out.