Time for .NET

Caspar · 13-09-2004, 08:49

Ok, I'm currently looking for a new job and a lot of jobs are asking for .NET.

It seems my ASP/MS SQL skills need upgrading

I'm looking for advice on where to start .NET development and what to learn, VB.NET, ASP.NET, etc?

Also what tools do I need?

Any weblinks would be useful

Bifta · 13-09-2004, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caspar

Ok, I'm currently looking for a new job and a lot of jobs are asking for .NET.

It seems my ASP/MS SQL skills need upgrading

I'm looking for advice on where to start .NET development and what to learn, VB.NET, ASP.NET, etc?

Also what tools do I need?

Any weblinks would be useful

I don't know a lot about it as I'm learning it atm, mainly using code snippets from various site's, Visual Studio .NET might help you out a bit, it's rather large though.

Richard M · 13-09-2004, 10:10

Links:
http://www.microsoft.com/net/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/asp.net/
http://www.asp.net/Default.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=1
http://www.gotdotnet.com/
http://samples.gotdotnet.com/quickstart/aspplus/
http://www2.aspcode.net/

It's much more than regular ASP though, as a .NET developer you are expected to know languages such as C#, C++, Perl and VB so you should pick one to specialise in.
.NET is basically a framework which allows you run any of these languages server side, it's got very little to do with the classic ASP language so be prepared to forget everything you already know and learn a whole new language.

I did look into it at one point because it seemed that all people wanted were .NET developers but I decided to stay with PHP/Perl/MySQL/Linux.

greencreeper · 13-09-2004, 10:42

AFAIK ASP.NET adds OO to ASP, so if you know ASP that would flatten the learning curve a little, but you've still to get your head around a paradigm shift. Some people find it easy - some retire

If you choose a language, choose C# - it's basically Java. C++ is C with OO and is a language favoured by the elitist programmers; Perl is, well, a nightmare and best avoided; and VB is awful and isn't fully OO.

Tricky · 13-09-2004, 14:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by greencreeper

AFAIK ASP.NET adds OO to ASP, so if you know ASP that would flatten the learning curve a little, but you've still to get your head around a paradigm shift. Some people find it easy - some retire

If you choose a language, choose C# - it's basically Java. C++ is C with OO and is a language favoured by the elitist programmers; Perl is, well, a nightmare and best avoided; and VB is awful and isn't fully OO.

Correct ASP.NET adds OO...Plus a few other bells and whistles!
VB.NET is usually a way to get upto speed with ASP.NET fairly quickly
C# is generally used for more robost applications (execution speed is quicker AFAIK)
One thing to remember (after trying most of the weekend) is you cannot mixed VB & C# in the same ASP.NET page!!!

Some of the function calls are the same across both langs' just need ; on the end of the C# lines.

I think it comes down to what you've coded in before. I've done both C (not ++) and Basic (GW, A, VB) before but probably find VB.NET the easiest. Thing I found is that C# generally needs functions etc. to be "cased" correctly (DateTime.Now.ToString()) rather than datetime.now.... whereas in VB.NET it didn't care when compiled on the server.

greencreeper · 13-09-2004, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricky

VB.NET is usually a way to get upto speed with ASP.NET fairly quickly
C# is generally used for more robost applications (execution speed is quicker AFAIK)
One thing to remember (after trying most of the weekend) is you cannot mixed VB & C# in the same ASP.NET page!!!

Some of the function calls are the same across both langs' just need ; on the end of the C# lines.

I think it comes down to what you've coded in before. I've done both C (not ++) and Basic (GW, A, VB) before but probably find VB.NET the easiest. Thing I found is that C# generally needs functions etc. to be "cased" correctly (DateTime.Now.ToString()) rather than datetime.now.... whereas in VB.NET it didn't care when compiled on the server.

VB does tend to be the teaching language of choice - when I was learning it was Turbo Pascal. It's a bit of a "loose" language though, and nurtures some sloppy and dubious programming practices. It was taught at Uni as a RAD and prototyping language.

The case sensitivity thing in C# is because Java has case sensitivity - there's a set of naming conventions for variables and methods (all upper for static and first letter in lower for "normal" variables, and so on). No doubt C# will have it's own Microsoft-stamped conventions

Be aware that, for businesses, the choice of language does depend on where the code will be used. VB for client, C++ for middle tiers, C#/Java for server - something like that. So the language you learn determines the area of coding you work in.

poolking · 13-09-2004, 15:32

I've never really had the patience to learn programming. I think I should start.

greencreeper · 13-09-2004, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by poolking

I've never really had the patience to learn programming. I think I should start.

Go for it. Some people take to it like a duck to water, others struggle. All depends on your brain - memory and the ability to run through the program in your head

Tricky · 13-09-2004, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by poolking

I've never really had the patience to learn programming. I think I should start.

Come on everyone has written this code:
10 Print "I am really Cool"
20 goto 10

Remember when currys etc. used to sell Spectrums, Commodores, Dragons???

poolking · 13-09-2004, 16:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricky

Come on everyone has written this code:
10 Print "I am really Cool"
20 goto 10

Remember when currys etc. used to sell Spectrums, Commodores, Dragons???

Yes, but not any serious stuff.