Microsoft has posted an update to its Shared Source Common Language
Infrastructure (CLI) implementation, codenamed Rotor, which adds
support for Mac OS X.
Rotor is described by Microsoft as a compressed archive of source
code to a working implementation of the ECMA CLI and ECMA C#
language specification. It provides a resource for academics and
researchers to explore programming language concepts for Microsoft
.net developers interested in studying the technology.
"The CLI contains the specifications for a runtime engine that can
run programming language code," said John Montgomery, Microsoft
group product manager for developer platform. CLI is the core part
of the .net Framework for functions such as managing object
creation and memory.
To promote its .net Framework, Microsoft has submitted an
implementation of the C# programming language and CLI to ISO as
standards. "The main reason [for the submission] had to do with
overcoming the customer perception that Microsoft is somehow
entirely built on proprietary standards," Montgomery said.
New features in the Shared Source CLI include support for Mac OS X,
additional code cleanup and bug fixes, debugger improvements, class
reference documentation and additional samples, build system
improvements, and more test cases and tool upgrades.
Shared Source CLI features about 3 million lines of code and is
available for research and academics. The software can be used for
non-commercial purposes.
An analyst noted the restrictions on use of the Rotor technology.
"What you can do with Rotor is somewhat limited," said Thomas
Murphy, senior programme director at Meta Group.
"It isn't for commercial products. It isn't something you would
normally use to develop applications on. It's more of an
educational and research-oriented thing," Murphy said.
However, Murphy applauded the company's efforts to standardise
technology with a standards body. "The key thing to me is Microsoft
is trying to work with standards bodies. They are trying to move
this forward," said Murphy.
Shared Source CLI features source code for an implementation of CLI
to run on Windows XP, Free BSD, and Mac OS X 10; compilers to work
with the Shared Source CLI for C#; development tools;
documentation; sample code; and test suites.
Also featured is the Platform Layer is for porting Shared Source
CLI from Windows XP to FreeBSD and Mac OS X.