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I felt there was a need for us to build a new programming language. I also had come to see that Microsoft functions best when it controls its own destiny.

Not to go too far, but Microsoft is probably used by most people out there.

It's strategic for us - lots of people will develop applications in .NET.

After all, C++ isn't a perfect match for Java's design aims either.

This evolution may compromise Java's claim of being simpler than C++, but my guess is that the effort will make Java a better language than it is today.

However, when Java is promoted as the sole programming language, its flaws and limitations become serious.

What Microsoft is really good at is endlessly iterating and revving - incrementally improving things that already exist - and those things that already exist are generally acquired from the outside.

A lot of people think, and Microsoft is happy to let them think, that all great things are invented by Microsoft. In fact, very, very little has been invented by Microsoft.

Well Microsoft really does develop some really interesting technology.

The kind of programming that C provides will probably remain similar absolutely or slowly decline in usage, but relatively, JavaScript or its variants, or XML, will continue to become more central.