In a significant move toward transparency and collaboration, Microsoft has decided to open source the standardization process for its C# programming language. By moving this work to a public repository within the .NET Foundation, Microsoft aims to make the entire process of C#’s evolution more accessible. This includes everything from designing new features to their eventual implementation and standardization, allowing the community to participate in discussions and contribute to the language’s future.
The newly established GitHub repository, dotnet/csharpstandard, will serve as the primary workspace for the ECMA C# standard committee. This shift to an open environment is expected to streamline the standardization process, fostering better communication and involvement from developers worldwide. By making all conversations public, Microsoft is allowing more direct input from the community, which it believes will lead to a more collaborative and efficient approach to C# development.
This decision builds on previous efforts by Microsoft to open up the C# ecosystem. In 2014, the company took a significant step by open sourcing the C# compilers, making them available in the dotnet/roslyn repository. Additionally, Microsoft set up the dotnet/csharplang repository as the official space for C# language design, where developers can track the ongoing work on new versions and features of the language. These initiatives have allowed developers to engage more directly with the language’s development.
The open-source approach has already led to work being done on the draft text for C# 6, with plans to incorporate features from C# 7 into the next iteration. With this shift to open-source standardization, Microsoft is positioning C# as not only a widely used language but also one that evolves through an open, community-driven process, ensuring that its future development reflects the needs and input of developers from all over the world.