Updated FAQ; News items

svn path=/trunk/mono/; revision=1743

1 files changed, 89 insertions, 5 deletions

diff --git a/doc/faq b/doc/faq
index 92116a01adc..968cebacf12 100644
--- a/doc/faq
+++ b/doc/faq
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <a href="#basics">Basics</a><br>
 <a href="#ximian">The Ximian Role in the Mono project</a><br>
 <a href="#gnome">Mono and GNOME</a><br>
+<a href="#gui">Building GUI applications with Mono</a><br>
 <a href="#msft">Mono and Microsoft</a><br>
 <a href="#pnpproject">Mono and the Portable.NET Project</a><br>
 <a href="#webservices">Web Services</a><br>
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ A: Mono contains a number of components useful for building new
 
 
    Windows has compilers that target the virtual machine from <a
-href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/net/thirdparty/default.asp#lang">a
+   href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/net/thirdparty/default.asp#lang">a
    number of languages:</a> Managed C++, Java Script, Eiffel,
    Component Pascal, APL, Cobol, Oberon, Perl, Python, Scheme,
    Smalltalk, Standard ML, Haskell, Mercury and Oberon.
@@ -86,10 +87,29 @@ Q: Will you implement the .NET Framework SDK class libraries?
 A: Yes, we will be implementing the APIs of the .NET Framework SDK
    class libraries. 
 
+Q: Will you offer an ECMA-compliant set of class libraries?
+
+A: Eventually we will.  Our current focus is on interoperating
+   with the Microsoft SDK, but we will also offer an ECMA compliant
+   set of libraries. 
+
 Q: What does the name "Mono" mean?
 
 A: Mono is the word for `monkey' in Spanish. We like monkeys.
 
+Q: Is Mono usable?
+
+A: The JIT engine is usable on Intel x86 machines.  An interpreter
+   can be used on other non-Intel x86 machines.  
+
+   The class libraries are not yet mature enough to run real applications,
+   but if you are interested in trying out Mono, you can definetly start
+   testing things out as many programs run.
+
+   The C# compiler has made significant progress, it can even compile
+   itself now, but it can not yet be ran with our class libraries as
+   they are missing some features. 
+
 Q: When will you ship it?
 
 A: It is premature to target a shipdate for the code, but we
@@ -139,6 +159,18 @@ A: We will devote most of our resources to work on the pieces which are
    the real world, it will achieve a critical mass of developers to
    improve it further.
 
+Q: Will Ximian offer Mono commercially?
+
+A: When Mono is ready to be shipped Ximian will offer a commercial
+   support and services for Mono. 
+
+Q: Will you wait until Mono is finished?
+
+A: Mono will ship on various stages as they mature.  Some people
+   require only a subset of the technologies, those will ship first.
+
+   More advanced features will take more time to develop.  A support
+   timeline will be available in June 2002.
 
 <a name="gnome"></a> 
 ** Mono and GNOME
@@ -177,6 +209,35 @@ A: Yes, we will provide a set of classes for implementing and using
    Bonobo components more easily, just like .NET on Windows allows you
    to export .NET components to COM.
 
+Q: Does Mono depend on GNOME?
+
+A: No, Mono does not depend on GNOME.  We use a few packages produced by
+   the GNOME team like the `glib' library.  
+
+Q: But will I be able to build GNOME applications?
+
+A: Yes, we will enable people to write GNOME applications using Mono.
+
+<a name="gui"></a>
+** GUI applications
+
+Q: Will Mono enable GUI applications to be authored?
+
+A: Yes, you will be able to build GUI applications.  Indeed, that is our
+   main focus.  We will provide both the Windows.Forms API and the Gtk# AP(I.
+
+Q: What is the difference between Gtk# and System.Windows.Forms?
+
+A: Gtk# is a set of bindings for the Gtk+ toolkit for C# (and other
+   CIL-enabled languages).  System.Windows.Forms is an API defined
+   by Microsoft to build GUI applications.
+
+Q: Will I be able to run my smart clients on systems powered by Mono?
+
+A: As long as your applications are 100% .NET and do not make use
+   of P/Invoke to call Win32 functions, your smart client applications
+   will run on Mono platforms.
+
 <a name="msft"></a>
 ** Mono and Microsoft
 
@@ -287,9 +348,19 @@ A: Most of Mono is being written using C#, with only
 <a name="webservices"></a>
 ** Web Services
 
-Q: Is Mono just a new way of writing Web Services?
+Q: How is Mono related to Web Services?
 
-A: No.
+A: Mono is only related to Web Services in that it will implement the
+   same set of classes that have been authored in the .NET Framework
+   to simplify and streamline the process of building Web Services.
+
+   But most importantly, Mono is an Open Source implementation of the
+   .NET Framework.
+
+Q: Can I author Web Services with Mono?
+
+A: You will be able to write Web Services on .NET that run on Mono and
+   viceversa. 
 
 Q: If Mono implements the SDK classes, will I be able to write and
    execute .NET Web Services with it?
@@ -385,7 +456,10 @@ Q: Could Java target the CLI?
 
 A: Yes, Java could target the CLI.  We have details on a <a
    href="ideas.html#guavac">project</a> that someone could take on to
-   make this happen.
+   make this happen.  
+
+   Microsoft has an implemenation of the Java language called J# that
+   can target the CIL execution engine. 
 
 <a name="extending"></a>
 ** Extending Mono
@@ -406,6 +480,16 @@ A: Yes.  The Microsoft class collection is very big, but it is by no
    For more information on extending Mono, see our <a
    href="ideas.html">ideas</a> page.
 
+Q: Do you plan to Embrace and Extend .NET?
+
+A: Embracing a good technology is good.  Extending technologies in
+   incompatible ways is bad for the users, so we do not plan on 
+   extending the technologies.
+
+   If you have innovative ideas, and want to create new classes, we 
+   encourage you to make those classes operate correctly well in both
+   Mono and .NET
+
 <a name="portability"></a>
 ** Portability
 
@@ -421,7 +505,7 @@ A: Our main intention at Ximian is to be able to develop GNOME
    applications with Mono, but if you are interested in providing a
    port of the Winform classes to other platforms (frame buffer or
    MacOS X for example), we would gladly integrate them, as long
-   they are under a Free Software License. 
+   they are under an open source license.  
 
 Q: Will Mono run on Windows?