Is .NET 5.0 and C# 9 a "threat" to D?

[Ola Fosheim Grøstad]

On Friday, 13 November 2020 at 08:11:17 UTC, Siemargl wrote:
> On Thursday, 12 November 2020 at 15:57:44 UTC, Jack wrote:
>> .NET 5.0 is going to be multiplatform[1] and getting alot more 
>> sugax-syntax[2]. Can't this make people pick C# rather D? I'm 
>> a bit afraid D can gain less popularity due to that or even 
>> make people switch. What are your thoughts on that?
>>
>>
>> [1]: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/announcing-net-5-0/
>> [2]: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/c-9-0-on-the-record/
>
> Not a "threat", but rather another one "nail in the lid of the 
> coffin".
>
> NET5 eliminates several important advantages of D - native 
> compilation, fast start, inability to decompile, multiplatformy.
>
> And NET5 is much more stable for the user. I have experience of 
> simply recompiling a 14 year old application from NET2.0->NET4.5

Many developers are sceptical of MS willingness to support other 
platforms long term. All it takes to wipe it out is a new CEO. 
Same with Swift.

The nail in the coffin would be to not fix those issues in D that 
require breaking changes (it isn't possible to satisfy everyone, 
so D has to select which application area to focus on).