I am ready to dive in!!!

[courtjester]

OK, its only been a couple of days, but I have already finished and can write minor JavaScript programs, like forms and such. What is the best reference to learning ASP.NET. I found their tutorials, is that the best??

[D3mon]

unfortunately the MS tutorial can be really hard going. Get hold of this book which is highly recommended : ASP.NET unleashed by Stephen Walther.

[Webforumz Staff]

On the software side: I personally wouldn't recommend learning asp.net using Visual Studio.net. Use the free WebMatrix instead. VS is great, but because it pushes you into using codebehind you'll have some problems following most of the book's examples. Plus VS.net has so much extra stuff you won't use for asp.net it can be a bit overwhelming.

[courtjester]

I have the free webmatrix program, but I cant figure it out!!! I don't know what to do, it runs and everything, but when I got into the database chapter, it isn't like the tutorial. It's the same version and everything. Also, the majority of my coding is technically correct, but it says there is an error. I dont know what is wrong. I have .NET FRAMEWORK v1.1, but I dont have an IIS, whatever that is. Is that my problem?

IIS is Internet Information Services from Microsoft. It is Microsoft's web server, etc. If you have XP Pro then you can install IIS by going to Add/Remove Programs -> Windows Components, and then IIS.

Have fun!

[courtjester]

Too bad I dont got pro . My dad hates me doing web design, he said he would disown me if I continued to do it over anything else, of course he was not serious, but he wont talk to me about it. He told me that he had the facts about web design. He said, it has only been areound for 2 years now, and you will only have a job for about a year and then what oyu learned is obsolete and then no one wants to hire you!!! Lol, he is totally wrong, no one wants to hire you unless you are old enough that your knowledge is obsolete, that way they know that they are getting someone with good ideas. Ohh well, Thanks.

See, I am glad we dont have an annoying spell checker to beep at me, look at all those lovely mispelled words!!!

[gwx03]

I've just started in ASP but I think you need IIS to test-run ASP scripts on your own PC. else, you could use a free webhost and just upload and run it there... ( like brinkster.com )

[D3mon]

You'll also need to install the ASP.NET framework - grab it from the Windows Update site.

[courtjester]

but doesnt brinkster crap out on you? I could use my domain name. That might work. hey, thanks for the idea.

[Webforumz Staff]

Webmatrix comes with a built in testing environment (kind of like a mini-server). The problem you're probably hitting with the database chapter is that you don't have SQL Server installed. You'd need to get the MSDE from Microsoft for that.