learning asp 1

Guest_imported · Apr 3, 2002

Hi,

I know html,javascript, flash and some java.

i am planning on learning asp.

Is it like java or html in any way? Is it possible to learn it without formal training...like from a book?

How difficult is it and what are the advantages of using asp on my web sites?

BBirkett · Apr 3, 2002

I would say the biggest advantage I have seen for choosing to use ASP, is that it is easy to learn, and has great syntax for making maintenance easy later.

ASP can be sort of described as VBA embedded in HTML. So if you know HTML, and have any experience at all in programming with VB, then you are a good way there already!

You embed code in your standard html files with the open tag <% and close tag %>

ie.

<HTML>
<BODY>
<% Response.Write "This is a demo" %>
</BODY>
</HTML>

All code inside <% and %> tags gets executed on the server, converted into html result then sent to the client for output.

The above example would display 'This is a demo' on a blank web page.

I learnt asp 3 years ago from a book, and within 6 months I was quite competent with it. If you are competent and dedicated enough you should find learning from a good book quite easy. I learnt from "Using Active Server Pages" by Scot Johnson, but there are many great books out there, and any would probably get you started.

Your alternatives to ASP are things like Perl, Cold Fusion etc, and as far as I'm concerned, ASP will give you just as much functionality, with half the syntax headaches that the rest give you

I say go for it and learn ASP. My only other recommendation is that you keep in mind that the new ASP.Net and VB.Net are out now, and provide much more functionality than its predecessors. Maybe learn a little ASP first, then with your Java OO knowledge, ASP.Net shouldn't be hard to pick up.

Good luck - and happy coding!

Brett Birkett B.Comp
Systems Analyst

Guest_imported · Apr 4, 2002

Thanks for your reply. It was really helpful.

I like that all asp goes between the <% %> tags. It is easy to identify and fits nicely into html, which I already know. I do not know VB though.

The new VB.Net and ASP.net, i guess, have new features. Currently, do all servers/browsers support it and will the older version be supported still?

BBirkett · Apr 4, 2002

I haven't looked into .Net to a great amount. I have been to a conference and worked my way through about 20 examples, but thats about it!

I believe that you require a Windows 2000 or Windows XP machine running IIS with the .Net Framework installed. I know that this configuration will allow you to host .Net code, but it could be possible to use other operating systems with other configurations.

At the conference I learned that Microsofts upcoming replacements for XP servers and 2000 servers will all be called .Net servers! ie. the new O/S will be called Microsoft Windows .Net Obviously this o/s will also host .Net applications.

As for browsers, .Net code is all rendered to standard html, so it is compatible on all browsers! You can therefore write your own .Net ActiveX controls, that render to all browsers!! Whereas, current ActiveX controls will only run on IE

Also, standard ASP code will still execute on all servers with IIS or PWS installed, and I believe there will still be many opportunities for standard ASP development for quite some time yet, since .Net is still extremely new, and these things seem to take there time to take over completely! Brett Birkett B.Comp
Systems Analyst

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learning asp 1

Guest_imported

New member

BBirkett

Programmer

Guest_imported

New member

BBirkett

Programmer

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