Figuring out tools to use

[jcarmody]

Hello -
Although I am a 20+ year programmer, my knowledge of web development is minimal. I have been using the internet and trial and error to make basic changes to a site that my company had developed a couple of years ago.

Is there a way to determine what programming tools were employed is developing this site? How can I tell if it is asp.net or classic asp? When I open the .asp pages some of them have some code that indicates JavaScript (<Script language="Javascript"> This site also has a SQL database.

So far I have been using notepad to make changes, but I don't know if this would work to make a major change. Do developers use software like Frontpage or Microsoft Expressions to work on a site like this, or would those software packages be more suited for a different type of site?

 

[Sheco]

Notepad is fine. You might prefer the features, especially the tabbing of other text editors like UltraEdit or TextPad.

I would avoid FrontPage, it has a tendency to add cruft to your code.

As long as you are making small changing it might not be worth the effort to install some big web-site creation tool because you'll spend more time muxxing with the configuration and settings than you save via whatever niceties are offered.

 

[ChrisHirst]

generally, .asp = ASP .aspx = .NET but this can be changed so it's not 100% reliable.
Looking at the source code as delivered to the browser is not any use either, you will just see client side code (HTML & javascript) as the server side code has run already.

I use Notepad, EditPlus & Dreamweaver (in code view) to develop sites.

Chris.

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