Ten: Created page with "{{Infobox software | name = Mono | logo = Mono_project_logo.svg | developer = Novell (formerly), Xamarin, Microsoft, and community contributors | released = {{Start date|2004}} | latest_release_version = 6.12 | programming_language = C, C# | operating_system = Cross-platform | platform = .NET Framework implementation | genre = Software framework | license = MIT License, GNU..."

2025-10-20T13:14:38Z

Created page with "{{Infobox software | name = Mono | logo = Mono_project_logo.svg | developer = Novell (formerly), Xamarin, Microsoft, and community contributors | released = {{Start date|2004}} | latest_release_version = 6.12 | programming_language = C, C# | operating_system = Cross-platform | platform = .NET Framework implementation | genre = Software framework | license = MIT License, GNU..."

New page

{{Infobox software
| name = Mono
| logo = Mono_project_logo.svg
| developer = Novell (formerly), Xamarin, Microsoft, and community contributors
| released = {{Start date|2004}}
| latest_release_version = 6.12
| programming_language = C, C#
| operating_system = Cross-platform
| platform = .NET Framework implementation
| genre = Software framework
| license = MIT License, GNU General Public License (for some components)
| website = [https://www.mono-project.com/ Official website]
}}

'''Mono''' is an open-source implementation of the [[.NET (software framework)|.NET Framework]], originally developed by [[Ximian]] and later maintained by [[Novell]], [[Xamarin]], and now by [[Microsoft]] and the open-source community.
It provides the ability to run .NET applications across multiple platforms, including Linux, macOS, and Windows.

== Overview ==
Mono was created to bring the Microsoft .NET framework to non-Windows systems, allowing developers to build cross-platform applications in [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] and other .NET languages.
It includes a C# compiler, a Common Language Runtime (CLR) implementation, and a comprehensive class library compatible with the ECMA and Microsoft .NET specifications.

The project serves as the foundation for several other technologies, including [[GtkSharp]] and [[MonoDevelop]] (the cross-platform IDE).

== Key components ==
* '''Mono runtime''' – An implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) and JIT compiler.
* '''C# compiler (mcs)''' – The original C# compiler, later replaced by Roslyn in .NET Core.
* '''Base Class Library (BCL)''' – Provides core APIs compatible with .NET Framework and .NET Standard.
* '''Mono tools and SDKs''' – Includes debugging tools, build utilities, and packaging systems.
* '''GtkSharp''' – A set of C# bindings for the GTK toolkit, built on top of Mono.

== Compatibility ==
Mono aims for high compatibility with Microsoft’s .NET Framework (up to version 4.x) and with modern [[.NET (software framework)|.NET]] (formerly .NET Core) through [[.NET Standard]] support.

It supports:
* Cross-platform development on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
* Mobile platforms via [[Xamarin.Android]] and [[Xamarin.iOS]].
* Integration with the GTK toolkit for desktop GUI applications.

== Usage ==
Mono can be installed on most Unix-like systems via package managers or from source.
Example command on Debian/Ubuntu:
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
sudo apt install mono-complete
</syntaxhighlight>

After installation, C# code can be compiled and executed directly:
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
mcs hello.cs
mono hello.exe
</syntaxhighlight>

== Relationship with modern .NET ==
While Mono was initially an independent implementation, it has become an integral part of Microsoft’s open-source [[.NET]] ecosystem.
Its technologies and runtime components are used in:
* [[.NET for Android]] and [[.NET for iOS]] (formerly Xamarin).
* [[.NET MAUI]] (for cross-platform desktop and mobile development).
* [[Blazor WebAssembly]] (leveraging Mono’s AOT and runtime work).

Mono continues to be maintained as part of the .NET Foundation projects, primarily for backward compatibility and embedded runtime use cases.

== History ==
* **2001:** Project initiated by Miguel de Icaza and Ximian.
* **2003:** First public release.
* **2004:** Novell acquires Ximian, taking over Mono development.
* **2011:** Xamarin founded to continue Mono after Novell layoffs.
* **2016:** Microsoft acquires Xamarin; Mono becomes part of .NET.
* **2020+:** Mono runtime integrated into .NET 5+ as a lightweight cross-platform runtime.

== See also ==
* [[GtkSharp]] – .NET bindings for the GTK toolkit.
* [[Gtk-Workload]] – .NET workload enabling GTK integration.

== External links ==
* [https://www.mono-project.com/ Official Mono website]
* [https://github.com/mono/mono Mono on GitHub]
* [https://dotnetfoundation.org/projects/net-mono .NET Foundation: Mono project page]

[[Category:.NET]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in C Sharp]]
[[Category:Graphical user interface toolkits]]
[[Category:Mono (software)]]
[[Category:Software frameworks]]
[[Category:Runtime systems]]

Mono (software) - Revision history