Ecma International has officially ratified the sixth edition of the C# language specification, marking a significant milestone in the standardization of C#. This edition, formally known as ECMA-334, was developed with a more open and collaborative approach, largely thanks to Microsoft’s initiative to make the specification process more accessible. By adopting a new, open-source-friendly workflow, Microsoft aims to foster a more agile and transparent development process, inviting contributions from the broader developer community.
A key change with this edition of the C# spec is its move to the Markdown format, which is hosted in an open-source repository under the .NET Foundation. This format enables easier collaboration by leveraging GitHub’s features, including pull requests and code reviews, which allow community members to suggest edits, submit corrections, and provide feedback. Mads Torgersen, the lead designer for C# at Microsoft, stated that this new approach will streamline the standardization process, enabling the C# team to refine and release specifications more efficiently, eventually aligning them more closely with the latest shipping versions of C#.
The sixth edition of the specification primarily focuses on codifying the standard language features of C# 6, detailing the syntax, semantics, and constraints of the language. These elements serve as the foundation for C# programs and ensure consistency in how the language is implemented across different platforms. This new process is expected to provide clearer guidance for future iterations of the language, making it easier to maintain the standards as C# evolves.
While the Ecma committee doesn’t directly influence upcoming versions of C#, it plays a critical role in preserving and standardizing features for previously released versions. As Microsoft continues its development of C# 11, expected to launch alongside .NET 7, this formalized approach to standardization will allow the C# team to remain focused on language evolution. This collaboration between Microsoft and Ecma offers the C# community a robust and well-documented foundation, ensuring that developers worldwide have a clear and reliable specification for their projects.