MetaChat - They want me to learn ASP.NET. Should I bother?

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25 January 2007

They want me to learn ASP.NET. Should I bother? →[More:]I really don't know much about .NET, other than it seems to be a semi-proprietary technology designed by Microsoft.
I've lately been focusing on getting my CSS down and then hope to learn PHP.
So the app used to work with .NET is Visual Studio. I would most likely be branding surveys in this app, so I could still design pages in CSS, but what I'm wondering is how steep this learning curve is (if it's something I can learn in a week, not as big of a deal) and how will this affect my progressive web experience (meaning, is it frowned upon in the developer/designer community?).
Sorry if these are stupid questions. Let me know if I'm not being clear. Thanks in advance.

post by: Hellbient at: 17:48 | 8 comments

How much OO background do you have? If you know Java, it's just a matter of learning the framework and the syntax differences. If you're more of a designer, it might be a steep learning curve since it's more oriented towards a software engineering paradigm. However, if the stuff they want you to do can be done by the out-of-the-box controls and doesn't require much custom development, just wiring it up to a database, you might be OK. Still, I hate maintaining .NET code written by non-engineers because they don't know the standards and best practices.

posted by matildaben 25 January | 18:36

I like .NET. It's a nice language. Easy to pick up, powerful and it exists (in my mind at least) in a half way house between PHP/PERL/ASP and the newer languages (Ruby/Python).

Also, the Ajax .net stuff Microsoft is doing looks quite nifty.

I think it's worth learning.

posted by seanyboy 25 January | 18:41

I don't know what OO is, but I don't know Java or any programming languages. I suppose maybe it's time I learn one though, and .NET might be an okay place to start. From what I hear once you learn one language, others come easier. I hear you on the code matildaben, if it's anything like dealing with the nightmare code that Dreamweaver creates.

And I've great things about Ajax, so maybe there's a good "in" there.

I suppose I'll give it a shot. It's probably better than quiting. Thanks you two.

posted by Hellbient 25 January | 19:13

.net is not really huge in the fortune 500 crowd but small to mid sized firms (say less that $250M a year) use it a lot. I always figure if someone else is paying for courses or even just books and CDs then grab the extra knowledge.

posted by arse_hat 25 January | 23:30

.NET is a framework, not a language. There's a huge difference.

hellbient, You won't be looked down upon by web developers if you choose PHP or ASP, since both of those languages have awfully large marketshares and neither language is going away any time soon.

You really might as well learn any language you can, since a) you can always learn another one later and b) you never know when it might come in handy.

posted by cmonkey 26 January | 02:09

Actually, I guess ASP isn't a language, either.

posted by cmonkey 26 January | 02:13

So learn as many technologies as you can, since you never know when they'll come in handy.

posted by cmonkey 26 January | 02:16

Yeah, i suppose you're right. Thanks. I've already downloaded the free VS version.

posted by Hellbient 26 January | 12:37

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