Deep Thoughts with Richard Schoen

OK, we’ve been doing cross platform Java development for just over a year now. I can still recall the moment I finally gave in to the dark side. Although in my case Darth Vader isn’t my father.

Along the way we’ve discovered a new tool called Grasshopper from a company called MainSoft. Yes I know it sounds wierd, but this tool is an add-in for Microsoft Visual Studio that utilizes the open source .Net Common Language Runtime project called MONO.

So what ? What does this tool really do for me as a Microsoft or Sun Java software developer ? Basically this tool lets our developers ride the fence in between the Microsoft, IBM and Sun worlds and allows us to maximize on our skills as Microsoft, IBM and Sun developers.

Let me explain. Our company background is AS/400 and iSeries so naturally we have applications that still run on the iSeries to support. We also have several VB programs along with developers who know VB well. Thirdly we have developers who are developing cross platform code in Java for the portability.

Using a tool like Grasshopper allows us to utilize our existing VB and C# skills to generate web applications using the Microsoft .Net languages and philosophies, yet the compiled executables can run on iSeries, Windows, Unix or Linux by simply installing and using the Apache Tomcat Web Application server.

This approach is limited to web applications and web services, but a lot of what we’re doing today involves web applications and web services. Imagine an aspx web application running natively on the iSeries under Tomcat. Believe me it works and it’s cool stuff.

Tell me your experiences after trying the Grasshopper product. Have fun and go develop cross platform.

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