C# newbie questions: choice, licensing, platform?

Question

C++ / C#

To be honest, I'm new to C#. The .NET platform itself attracts, around which a huge infrastructure has been created. According to my observations, the language develops. Didn't work with static typing - another reason to try something new. C# is a new experience for me. I have some experience in creating web applications in Ruby on Rails, Flask, maintaining old PHP projects. I do frontend, but I don’t really like it, more back.
Perhaps it seems to me, but in C # I see a bearded serious uncle. And Python/Ruby is for small tasks.

At work, there is a task (not urgent, before the end of the year) to make a web interface. The company uses several different DBMS. For my task, I need to connect to MS SQL Server and Oracle. Can I use .NET Core for this purpose in a corporate environment?

And for myself (all in a bunch, sorry):
1. Is there a free version of SQL Server for my projects (I understand that this is a combine)? If there is, how much it differs from the same MySql.
2. Are you developing web applications for yourself (personal site) using .NET Core?
3. Again, how expensive is it to deploy everything on WIndows Server + licensing?
4. The scope of C# is vast and I can't help but ask: do they write the web on it, but do they make cross-platform applications?
Under Linux/MacOS, can I do something worthwhile in the future?
5. Mobile applications, if I understand correctly, it is better not to do on it (there are Kotlin and Swift).
6. For machine learning, is datascience used?
7. New feature of webassembly, is there support?
8. In general, what are MS' plans for this language?
9. If tomorrow MS abandons him, how long will he live?

Answer 1

1) C# is mainly used for enterprise and game dev. Unlike Java (where the main clients are Fintech, Telecom and Logistics), C# is more inclined towards the state apparatus and production, but it is so dependent from place to place.
2) .Net 5 (which will be released this year) - will be just Java + batteries. .Net Core 3.1, which is currently in production, is already in production.
3) C# for desktop - more like support for legacy applications (of which there are many). Even Microsoft itself uses either Electron (js) or QT for new applications.
4) You can write mobile applications, but there is not much sense in this. So far, all companies that have money are hiring Java / Kotlin + Swift / Object + C programmers, because it turns out stable and predictable. And all sorts of hybrids in favor of the poor, and it is better not to work there.
5) Microsoft will not abandon C# - because it is the main tool of their ecosystem. And the ecosystem (Licenses and Azure) bring them kilotons of dough.
6) You can write your own sites, there are simple ways to assemble a production ready project. It doesn't make much sense, but it's possible in general.
__
6. Is data science used for machine learning?
7. New feature of webassembly, is there support?
Do you need it if you go to the backend? Spraying does not bring money.
__
In general, the recommendations are What if you are 33-35+, you are already thinking about which area is better to buy an apartment, what whiskey or cognac to buy for yourself for the weekend, what car to buy for your wife so that she takes her children to circles, then you need to learn C # / Java ( the choice is not fundamental at all, up to where it is closer to go to work).
If there are not so many years yet, then something more dynamic like php/python/ruby/swift/kotlin, etc. is possible.

Answer 2

Can I use .NET Core for this purpose in a corporate environment?

You can, .Net Core is licensed under the terms of MIT .
1. There are
2. They are developing
3. Why deploy everything on Windows Server? In any case, if you are friends with level 2 mathematics, you will count without problems.
4. Do, you can.
5. Better to do, the presence of other platforms does not limit the use of this one.
6. Not in the know here, read on the Internet.
7. In fact, the whole asp on it and plows.
8. Grandiose.
9. Firstly - don't be silly, this is the main language of the Mikes, why the hell would they throw it in the foreseeable future? It is also consistently in the top ten most popular languages ​​in the world. Second - what do you mean by "live"? Withhas been living for a fucking cloud of years, despite the fact that no one updates it.