COMFILE Technology's Documentation Library

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====== Running .NET WinForms Applications with Mono ======

===== Overview =====

.Net applications can run on Linux by utilizing the [[http://www.mono-project.com/|Mono Framework]].  
The Mono Framework is already installed on the ComfilePi's default Raspberry Pi OS image.

[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Forms|WinForms]] applications can be developed and debugged on a Windows PC using Visual Studio, and then simply copied to the ComfilePi and executed with ''mono''; **no re-compiling required!**  

Mono implements **desktop** Winforms, so, unlike the .Net Compact Framework and Windows CE, Mono and the ComfilePi support alpha-blending, anti-aliasing, and other rich UI features.

Mono provides the basic ''System.Windows.Forms'' implementation.  However, there are many graphics and UI frameworks that are compatible with Mono that can also be used.  Below are a few potential offerings.

  * [[http://advancedhmi.com/|AdvancedHMI]] - HMI controls for .Net
  * [[https://github.com/ddobrev/QtSharp|QtSharp]] - Mono/.NET bindings for Qt.
  * [[https://github.com/mono/xwt|XWT]] - A cross-platform UI toolkit for creating desktop applications with .NET and Mono.
  * [[https://github.com/picoe/Eto|Eto.Forms]] - A cross platform GUI framework for desktop and mobile applications in .NET.
  * [[https://opentk.github.io/|OpenTK]] - A set of fast, low-level C# bindings for OpenGL, OpenGL ES and OpenAL.
  * [[http://www.mono-project.com/docs/gui/gtksharp/|Gtk#]] - A graphical user interface toolkit for mono and .Net. The project binds the gtk+ toolkit and assorted GNOME libraries, enabling fully native graphical Gnome application development using the Mono and .Net development frameworks.
  * [[http://www.mono-project.com/docs/tools+libraries/libraries/|Many more]].

There are a few plugins that one can use to remote debug .Net/Mono programs running on the ComfilePi from Visual Studio, but they are all in various states of incompleteness or disrepair.  Instead it is recommend to debug applications on the Windows host PC before deploying to the ComfilePi.  In the unusual case where a program must be debugged on the ComfilePi, one can use the [[https://github.com/mono/sdb|SDB command-line debugger]].


__NOTE__: Mono is not a perfect implementation of the .Net Framework (though it's quite good).  You may need to make some adjustments to your code or choose Mono-compatible libraries in some situations, but those situations are typically the exception, not the rule.  

Mono does not support WPF applications.

===== Install Mono on the ComfilePi =====
	 		
Check if Mono is already installed.  Run the command ''mono -V'' to verify. 		
		
<code>
$ mono -V 		
Mono JIT compiler version 4.8.0 (Stable 4.8.0.495/e4a3cf3 Wed Feb 22 18:27:02 UTC 2017) 		
Copyright (C) 2002-2014 Novell, Inc, Xamarin Inc and Contributors. www.mono-project.com 		
		TLS:           __thread 		
		SIGSEGV:       normal 		
		Notifications: epoll 		
		Architecture:  armel,vfphard 		
		Disabled:      none 		
		Misc:          softdebug 		
		LLVM:          supported, not enabled. 		
		GC:            sgen 		
		
</code>	
		
If it isn't installed, it can be installed with ''sudo apt install mono-complete'' or by following the [[https://www.mono-project.com/download/stable/#download-lin-raspbian|Mono Project's installation instructions for the Raspberry Pi]].	
				
If you are using Visual Basic, then you will likely also want to install ''mono-vbnc'' for dependencies such as ''Microsoft.VisualBasic''. 		
<code>
sudo apt-get install mono-vbnc 		
</code>
	
	
===== Demonstration =====

This documentation will take you through all of the steps necessary to set up the development environment on a Windows PC, build a .Net application, and deploy and execute it on the ComfilePi.

The following video provides a brief illustration of the procedure.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:comfilepi_mono_demo.mp4?800x450 |}}

==== Install Visual Studio on Windows PC ====

Download the Visual Studio installer from https://www.visualstudio.com/.  Be sure to select the //.Net desktop development// component during the installation.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:install_vs_desktop.png |}}

==== Create a WinForms Project ====

Create a new C# WinForms application by selecting //Windows Classic Desktop//-->//Windows Forms App (.NET Framework)// project template.  Name the project //Hello World//.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:new_project.png |}}

Add a //Button// and a //Label// control to the form.  Change the button's //Text// property to //Say Hello//.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:button_and_label_1.png |}}

Double-click the button to add a //click// event handler as shown in the code below.

<code C#>
using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace HelloWorld
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            label1.Text = "Hello, World!";
        }
    }
}
</code>

==== Debug the Application On the Windows PC ====

Press //Start// in the Visual Studio toolbar to execute and debug the program.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:debug.png |}}

Press the //Say Hello// button.  The ''button1_click'' event handler will fire, and the label will change to read //Hello, World!//.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:press_button.png |}}

==== Deploy the Application and Execute it on the ComfilePi ====

The typical way to connect to the ComfilePi from a Windows Desktop PC is via Ethernet.  The ComfilePi has built-in Ethernet port, and once connected to a network it will automatically obtain an IP address via DHCP.

=== Obtaining the ComfilePi's IP Address ===

To obtain the IP address, run ''hostname -I'' from a command console, or touch or float the mouse cursor over the //Wireless & Wired Network Settings// item from the ComfilePi's desktop panel.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:ipaddress.png?nolink |}}

=== Enable the ComfilePi's SSH Server ===
Typically, a remote connection between the Windows PC and the ComfilePi is established via SSH.  Be sure the SSH Server is enabled on the Comfile Pi.  Enabling the SSH server also enables an SFTP server for copying files.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:enable_ssh_1.png?nolink |}}

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:enable_ssh_2.png?nolink |}}

=== Copying Files via SFTP ===

At this time, Windows does not include an SSH client, so 3rd party utilities are needed.  For this demonstration we'll use the FileZilla Client to copy our executable files from the Windows PC to the ComfilePi.  [[https://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client|Download the FileZilla Client]] and install it on the Windows PC.

Once installed run the FileZilla Client and connect to the ComfilePi by entering its IP address, username (default: pi), password (default: raspberry) and port (22 for SFTP), and pressing the //Quickconnect// button.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:filezilla_1.png?nolink |}}

Drag and drop the files from the Windows PC to the ComfilePi.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:filezilla_2.png?nolink |}}

=== Execute the Application on the ComfilePi ===

To execute the application, simply run the command ''mono HelloWorld.exe''.


{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:mono_command.png?nolink |}}

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:running_on_comfilepi.png |}}




==== Debugging the Application on the ComfilePi ====

To deploy to, launch and debug .NET Framework 4.x applications on the ComfilePi from within Visual Studio, use our [[.:remote_mono_debugger:index|Remote Mono Debugger Visual Studio Extension]]

==== Source Code ====

Download the source code for this demonstration.

{{ :comfilepi:running_.net_winforms_applications_with_mono:helloworld.zip |}}