Hi Lemmings, I wondered if anyone had successfully created a C# project that uses winforms on linux.
I just can’t figure out how to do it.
I use Arch and have full dotnet 6 and 8 packages; but I can’t dotnet new winforms as the template seems to not exist.
I also have installed mono and monodevelop installed, but even the simplest solution (Console App) can’t load correctly (currently I have /usr/share/dotnet/sdk/8.0.102/Sdks/Microsoft.NET.Sdk/targets/Microsoft.NET.Sdk.DefaultItems.Shared.targets(152,5) : error MSB4062: The "CheckForImplicitPackageReferenceOverrides" task could not be loaded from the assembly /usr/share/dotnet/sdk/8.0.102/Sdks/Microsoft.NET.Sdk/targets/../tools/net472/Microsoft.NET.Build.Tasks.dll. Invalid Image Confirm that the <UsingTask> declaration is correct, that the assembly and all its dependencies are available, and that the task contains a public class that implements Microsoft.Build.Framework.ITask. but there were different similar errors before, these errors.
I don’t really want to boot up a VM every time I have to code on that project, but I’m starting to feel desperate about this.

TLDR: How does one create and work on a WinForms C# project with linux ? Any suggestions are welcome

Some clarifications for future readers :

  • It is for a school group project; winforms in imposed, which sadly won’t let me go with Avalonia
  • Dark ArcEnglish
    70·
    7 months ago

    This isn’t an answer to your question.

    I’m just curious, why winforms? Is there something that they do really well that you’re just dying to use on Linux? Trying to get a legacy application working? Familiarity?

    • nopeOP
      20·
      7 months ago

      none of that; it’s a school project which imposed winforms, else I’d have found some thing that would have worked for my linux

      • Dark ArcEnglish
        20·
        7 months ago

        I’d recommend using a VM in that case and calling it a day.

      • eveninghere
        21·
        7 months ago7 months ago

        That syllabus likely assumes Windows. C# on non-Windows is not impossible, but it’s going to require effort infeasible for school projects like that one. As you’re facing it, C#'s packages were originally not meant to be used cross-platform, and god only knows the amount of problems that lie ahead. That clearly didn’t occur to the teacher’s head while they designed the course.

        • douglasg14b
          30·
          7 months ago

          C# on non-Windows is not impossible, but it’s going to require effort infeasible for school projects like that one.

          You mean winforms (The windows specific UI) on non-Windows? Otherwise this is incredibly misleading, and plain wrong.

          C# in non windows is the norm, the default even, these days. I build, compile, and run, my C# applications in linux , and have been for the last 5+ years.

          • eveninghere
            12·
            7 months ago7 months ago

            Not talking about winforms in that quoted part. I thought that was obvious.

            I don’t buy the second paragraph, especially as the phrasing is so loose it can mean anything.

            Edit: overall I think this will result in a typical internet conversation that turns into “lmao that’s the weakest argument I’ve ever seen!” “you’re so pathetic!” etc. etc.

            • Lucky
              30·
              7 months ago

              Dotnet core (now just dotnet) was a full rebuild of the framework specifically for cross platform support so they could get more enterprise cloud hosting on azure, running everything on Linux

              Modern C# is built for first class Linux support for everything except UI

              • eveninghere
                11·
                7 months ago7 months ago

                Nope. There are nuggets that lack ARM binaries, for example. And I’ve had enough troubles on macOS therefore.