I am learning ASP.net 2.0 but noticed 3.5 is coming out.

[Mahaguru]

Should I abandon 2.0 and just start on 3.5 then? I am reading a book called "ASP.NET 2.0 in 24 hours" and I am half way through, which is not saying much since this is a beginners book.

Concepts will probably stay the same, but just wondering.

 

[Markbnj]

My mainstream work has always been 2-3 years behind the latest release. Heck, I just had to talk a client out of doing an ASP.Net 1.1 project.

There is some very cool stuff in .Net 3.x in general (XAML, workflow, comm. framework, etc.) but I think most of it won't be in general use for a couple more years.

 

[troytime]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
My mainstream work has always been 2-3 years behind the latest release. Heck, I just had to talk a client out of doing an ASP.Net 1.1 project.

There is some very cool stuff in .Net 3.x in general (XAML, workflow, comm. framework, etc.) but I think most of it won't be in general use for a couple more years.

agree

about 2 months ago a client contacted me about changing a site running cold fusion 4.5

 

[KB]

Don't let the Microsoft version numbers confuse you... too late, MS screwed them up.
ASP.Net 3.5 is ASP.Net 2.0 with a few feature additions. The only major ASP.net addition is the new AJAX controls, but you certainly don't have to use them. Everything you learn in the ASP.Net 2.0 book will be directly relevant to 3.5, you won't have to re-learn anything.

 

[imported_Dhaval00]

Ditto what KB said. This really should have been .NET 2.3! We have begun developing sites in ASP.NET 3.5, but a majority of the functionality can still be achieved in .NET 2.0. Even when you look under a site's properties in IIS after installing .NET 3.5, there is no ASP.NET 3.5 option... it's still ASP.NET 2.0

On a logical note, you *do* want to learn .NET 2.0, because it is the basis for .NET 3.5. Once you master .NET 2.0, transitioning to .NET 3.5 will be a breeze.

 

[kyzen]

Agreed with pretty much everybody here - stick with 2.0, apply what you learn to 3.5. They're very similar.

And if you're doing data work, check out linq.

 

[Gunslinger08]

The only cool stuff in 3.5 that is really useful for standard programmers is LINQ, extension methods, and built in support for AJAX. If you're going to be developing against SharePoint 2007, you'll also use Windows Workflow Foundation (introduced in 3.0) frequently.