Question about the choice of technology

[MPA]

Hi,
I have no experience with .NET or web programming and for the last couple of
years I was doing only client-server projects with PowerBuilder. Right now I
have to write a web application (something like MSDN) consisting of a tree
on the left side and some template pages on the right side where the
information is fed from the database. My company is inclined to use SQL
Server, .NET and Windows Server 2003 (which I think includes IIS).
1. Do you think it is a good technology for that purpose? (it could also be
done sticking with PowerBuilder and Sybase)
2. Do I need any more software than already mentioned?
3. Is creation of web pages in .NET easy and intuitive?
4. I once worked with Visual Studio 6.0 (C++,Visual Basic,MFC). What do I
have to learn more (except ASP) to write an application like mentioned
above?. I mean only major obstacles.
5. How long time of learning curve is that for an average programmer?
I am greatly obliged for your help. Thanks
Miroslaw

[Tasos Vogiatzoglou]

1).NET is ideal for such scenarios. It has a handfull of features
especially oriented for Web development, that are real time savers. It
would be good thing to invest some time to this.

2) You will need a copy of Visual Studio of course but nothing else for
beggining the development. It would be a good thing to download some
tools like NAnt, NUnit and FxCop. They are OpenSource and complementary
to Visual Studio .NET.

3) Like designing a form in a WYSIWIG editor. The WebForm designer is
pretty intuitive and for some scenarios you will never have to go to
"HTML View" or write code-behing code (although the generated code is
not optimal by any means)

4) Maybe you should consider learning CSharp, but it will be Ok with
VB.NET.

5) This is a tough question and it depends a lot on the programmer's
experience. I was able to catch up -decently- with the environment in
about 2 months, with previous experience in Java(3years), C (5years)
and some C++/MFC.

I hope a helped a little :)
Tasos

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Hi

See inline

I have no experience with .NET or web programming and for the last couple
of
years I was doing only client-server projects with PowerBuilder. Right now
I
have to write a web application (something like MSDN) consisting of a tree
on the left side and some template pages on the right side where the
information is fed from the database. My company is inclined to use SQL
Server, .NET and Windows Server 2003 (which I think includes IIS).
Yes Server 2003 includes IIS and as well the .Net framework.
1. Do you think it is a good technology for that purpose? (it could also
be
done sticking with PowerBuilder and Sybase)
Your Microsoft alternative is by instance MS Access, that will hower use
predefined styles and whatever.

Net gives you the posibility to make software for at almost every *modern*
computer device that holds a Windows OS while there is as well a version for
Linux.
2. Do I need any more software than already mentioned?
A MSDN subscription gives you everything you need and those are in more
versions, there are as well starter packs planned (you can donwload them now
as limited free to use Betas). Named add the moment express editions

http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/
3. Is creation of web pages in .NET easy and intuitive?
If it is about Data than in my opinion there are no alternatives which are
so complete. If it is only a window without any communication, than there
are probably better products as there is in the Microsoft line FrontPage.
4. I once worked with Visual Studio 6.0 (C++,Visual Basic,MFC). What do I
have to learn more (except ASP) to write an application like mentioned
above?. I mean only major obstacles.
The main thing is that you learn the OOP concept, that can be a hard thing
for a non OOP type programmer. On the other hand you can only use OOP. So
why not download by instance VisualBasic Express and give it a try with some
samples.

A little problem is than that the documentation about the 2.0 version is not
yet that what is the documentation for the 1.x version from which it is more
a problem that it is to much than that there is something not.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/
5. How long time of learning curve is that for an average programmer?

As said, try it with your point 4 the main thing is that you have to learn
OOP and the to become familiar with the Net framework.

A lot of success,

Cor