ASP.NET: It Really Is A Good Option.

I know I am going against what I see as the “norm” here at Lockergnome, but I figure that to be a good thing. I’m coming in as a writer here at Lockergnome.com to, if nothing else, be the token MS guy. Hey, I have no problem with that. While I am an avid user of the MS technologies like Visual Studios, Windows, IIS, and ASP/ASP.NET, I am also one of the first ones to point out when it’s not the right tool for the job. When it comes to developing Web applications I’m here to say that you really need to take a good look at ASP.NET. If your host supports the .NET Framework I think you will be quite intrigued. If you need strong DB support, a rich GUI design interface and an incredible list of components available then ASP.NET may be the right platform for you.

In order to make a truly solid decision on your Web platform you need to keep an open mind. Too many people are closed to either the Windows side or the *nix side to really make an honest appraisal. The arguments are all out there and have been beaten to death so I’m not going to waste time reiterating them here, but I think you really need to look at them. The new tools out from MS, like the Express packages, are available for free to download and try out. Go ahead, try them once. If you don’t find them useful then that’s fine but don’t make your decision without a full evaluation. I’ve used, and still use, PHP as well as ASP and ASP.NET. Take the time to evaluate each situation for your clients and make sure you are doing what’s best for them, not just your own needs.

In the future I plan on writing a series of articles that utilize the MS technologies. If all goes well I hope to inform you on not just the basics but the details on what works, what doesn’t, what to use when, and of course how to use it.

My name is Curt Christianson and I’m not only an MS user but an MS MVP.