Evaluating .NET for Windows Client Applications

Within this iteration we need to evaluate whether the use of Microsoft Developer Studio.NET is beneficial for the development of Windows applications. Also, we would like to see whether it is feasible to use C# instead of C++, something that might accelerate development time because, unlike C++, C# not only provides managed extensions but also is specifically developed for use in .NET.

A wide range of technologies can be used to develop Windows applications, including Visual Basic, C++, and Java. Because many Windows developers in our company are experienced C++ programmers and are familiar with Visual Studio 6.0, we need to explore the learning curve that team members have to go through when switching to the .NET technology. This effort must be weighed against the benefits that come with .NET, such as garbage collection for managed code, rich class libraries, and multiple language support.