C# is basically a more flexible/complex, less script-like version of VB.

 

I know this is going to sound like a dumb question but I'm assuming that C# is the newer version of C++ correct?

 

sort of. microsoft wanted it to be, but personally I see it as more of an advanced version of VB than C++...

 

So for C#, Mono doesn't support win32 forms, and like you said most of the rest isn't that great. It has a ways to go before I'd use it.
As for Java, I think it'd work if I -HAD- to; but truth is I HATE Java for a few reasons (most should be obvious to fellow geeks).

As for VB, it's ok but I've grown fond of C# of the .Net family.

Now for flash, so flash doesn't have access to the local system, it's sandboxed.
However, there is something called Adobe AIR, which is like the new Director and supports AS3.
I'd prefer to work with graphics as a library, instead of hacking .Net objects to support true transparency, and then drawing stuff myself. Flash makes it extremely easy, which is what AIR is; it's a desktop application version of flash.
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/air/
A guy I work with is certain that this should be able to communicate to a serial comm port. Oh and to answer your question, serial comm is a lot like reading/writing to a file. In .Net there's actually some nice methods to make things easier and also some events for triggering.
Now the Linux support is lackign at the moment, which the FAQ says is because they were waiting for the flash support in linux to finalize; that I do think has solidified in the recent months. They are interested in the support, so I'm certain that in the end it will be supported. Currently OSX and Windows is supported.


As for what C# is, not it is not Microsoft's anything.. C#.NET is Microsoft's, and all that means is you have access to namespaces, classes, objects, events, and generics that Microsoft has built for you. It also means that it compiles to the exact same runtime op code that any of the other .Net languages compile down to. In fact, VB.Net and C#.Net are so comparable in structure (as well as J#) you can easily convert the languages on free online pages on the web. It may have a hiccup here n there, but it's about 85-90% the same really.
C# is actually an ECMA scripting language (ECMA 334 tbe), which means it was not created by an American, in particular NOT Microsoft.

The last choice is PHP; it has serial comm down flat, and works a lot like sockets (which is also like reading from a file). This has it's benefits as it can actually talk to flash directly, and potentially make reporting flexible and in real time. Not to mention the cross platform support. Worse case scenario, there's also PHP GTK which has full support on windows, osx and linux.

So nafango, let me ask you... Would you be interested in supporting this effort?

 

sure, im game!

Ive done a fair amount of work in both C# and PHP, although you dont see much non-web based PHP.

AIR looks good, but its still in beta stages which always makes me nervous... although im sure its fine

Never used flash before, and most development software for it = $$$.
$$ that i dont have...

its been a couple months since ive done much programming, and ive been looking for an excuse to get back in it....

 

Computer geeks unite!!! LOL ..... now that nafango knows that Spaz isn't Drew Barrymore and trying to hit on him!!!