The open-source implementation of Microsoft's .NET is due to hit its second release today, with many .NET 3.5 features and a few notable exceptions. Mono 2.0 features an open-source version of C# 3.0 and Language Integrated Query (LINQ).

Mono lets you build and run .NET-style desktop and server applications on Linux, OS X and Solaris in addition to Windows. Project leader Miguel de Icaza told The Reg it was delays on Mono 2.0 that gave people the opportunity to begin working on C# 3.0 and putting in the completely new LINQ, for language-level integration with SQL to simplify programmatic access to data sources.

Mono 2.0, though, is missing Microsoft's latest work in web services around workflow, communications and presentation as these would have pushed out Mono 2.0 even further.

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