ASP.NET question from a newbie

[Juniper]

I'd like to learn asp.net, since its a new technology and should be hot in the industry.

I saw 2 books by Wrox:

1. Beginning ASP.NET using C#
2. Beginning ASP.NET using VB.NET

I understand that VB and C sharp are two different languages, but how does it relate to the fact that both are known as asp.net?
Does it mean that if I choose to learn asp.net, I have to learn either VB or C#?

 

[Elledan]

ASP is like CGI (*ducks to avoid some 60 lb UNIX manuals*), as in that you can use multiple languages to create an ASP-script.

I don't like this,though, since it means that if someone gives you a random ASP script, it can be in a few dozen languages, with every chance that you're unfamiliar with that particular language the script is coded in.

PHP owns you

 

[Keego]

php sounds so easy but I'm such a hardware junkie I know from the start that I'll never try to learn it

 

[Bluga]

Beginning ASP.NET using C# is an excellent book. With the coming of C#, i think you need not be too worried about VB.NET.

And don't get confused with .NET and ASP.NET, .NET is the whole infrastructure and ASP.NET is just part of it.

ASP.NET is the next generation of Active Server Pages. ASP.NET introduces a new paradigm to server-side Web development.

ASP.NET is a programming framework that enables the rapid development of web applications and services. Part of the emerging Microsoft .NET Platform, it provides the easiest and most scalable way to build, deploy and run distributed web applications that can target any browser or device.

Microsoft is in the process of building an entire new low-level infrastructure for Windows. This new infrastructure, when used, sits between the low-level Windows operations and user applications, managing the code execution. This infrastructure, labeled the .NET Common Language Runtime (or CLR for short), provides a level of encapsulation between the developer and the operating system, thereby making writing Windows programs simpler. No longer will the developer have to worry about low-level details such as memory management, pointer management, language differences, and other common annoyances.

ASP.NET is different from ASP in two major ways: first, ASP.NET offers several programmatic enhancements over ASP. Microsoft really did a great job of listening to ASP developers' comments and ideas for improvements and incorporated those improvements in ASP.NET; second, ASP.NET offers a change in programming fundamentals, in the way you write the code for creating these pages.

 

[Juniper]

Thx for the replies guyz

Beginning ASP.NET using C# is an excellent book. With the coming of C#, i think you need not be too worried about VB.NET.

Bluga, I nearly bought the Beginning ASP.NET using VB.NET... But I think I'll stick to C#, since its hot stuff.

 

[joohang]

I recommend "Teach Yourself ASP.NET in 21 Days" by Sams. I found it excellent so far. It got samples in VB.NET, but I just try coding them in C#, which consequently allows me to nicely compare the two languages while studying ASP.NET.

Elledan:


<< I don't like this,though, since it means that if someone gives you a random ASP script, it can be in a few dozen languages, with every chance that you're unfamiliar with that particular language the script is coded in. >>


This wouldn't be much of an issue in a development environment with a formalized business process and an architecture that componentizes based on use-case scenarios.

I think that the advantages of having a choice of over 20 languages (with more to come) outweighs the disadvantages. Also, the development team could agree to only write in one or two languages, if maintainability is a primary design goal of the project.