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Best language for a new ecommerce system?

php vs asp.net vs java...

         

Buzbe

3:47 pm on Nov 17, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I have a client that wants to build a new ecommerce system from stratch, they're tempted to go with asp (not .net!) or asp.net...

I'd love to hear other peoples opinions in this matter!

BradleyT

3:52 pm on Nov 17, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



We wrote our first e-commerce system in cold fusion. We're now switching to .net 2.0. It has a lot of new features for rapid development. You can create item display pages tied to SQL Server without writing a single line of code (besides the SQL stored procedures). You can create customer login, registration, and forgot password pages and forms without writing any code at all (don't even need stored procedures).

2.0 is eons ahead of classic asp (and php).

brendanfernandes

4:07 pm on Nov 17, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I've been happy enough with Tomcat/Servlets/JSP/Mysql for the last 4 years... for some quite large sites too.

I've tended to stay away from .NET as Microsoft have been chopping and changing it over the last couple of years (as they tend to do with everything)... I haven't crossed it off the list though and dare say it's worth considering too.

I just prefer to use old technologies because I am an old fogey.

RailMan

4:10 pm on Nov 17, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



as they're prepared to pay a lot of money to reinvent the wheel, i'd say go for a language that nobody else has built a payment system with .......... ummm ....... errr ..........

Buzbe

5:29 pm on Nov 17, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I'm inclinded to agree... php's great, I love programming in php, but oscommerce is already out there, why bother reinventing the wheel...

so its between java and .net now...

The fight goes on...

brendanfernandes

5:42 pm on Nov 17, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Personally, I find that re-inventing the wheel makes life more fun. Plus I prefer my wheels to other peoples'. So I'd say go for it!

Just my two pence anyway!

mnjohn

9:17 am on Nov 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member




Whichever language the developer is most talented, practiced, and trained in.

In my opinion, this is really a non-issue. There are so many other questions, big and small, in designing and implementing a "new ecommerce system" that the person designing it should not only be multilingual (programming-wise), but in general care very little about what language it's written in, very specific reasons notwithstanding; performance, user-interface capability, portability, application developer library access and experience, qualities of the programming team, etc.

Ask yourself why you are asking which language is the best, and you will find yourself asking better questions, getting better answers, then discovering the best language.

zulu_dude

9:27 am on Nov 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Excellent post mnjohn... the end system is far more important that the language it's written in.

Buzbe, maybe you want to check this out first... I've never ventured into using asp, as php has always sufficed. After reading the comments in this thread, I thought I'd go have a look at the asp.net site and find out more about it.

The first live demo sample I clicked on returned a runtime error. And this is on the official Microsoft ASP.net website.

If Microsoft can't work their own product reliably, what are the chances that I'm going to let the uptime of my sites depend on their product? That's right, slim to none...

Buzbe

11:33 am on Nov 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Zulu_dude

The microsoft stuff is alright, when it works, but like you, I prefere php too.
They have IBuySpy that you can modify to create your own store, but I dont trust it, php yeh great open source, micrsoft, I just dont trust their lisencing agreeements!

Red_Eye

11:42 am on Nov 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I have built my own ecommerce solution (I also like reinventing the wheel) I started in php, but got frustrated, I then switched to asp.net and it took half the time. I used .net 1.1 but looking at the new .net 2.0 I would say that it would be even quicker.

I have found it very stable and the site runs quick. VS.net is a great development tool. The only thing I would say that it is rubish at editing html. I tend to create the templates in dreamweaver or notepad then add the cleaver stuff in VS.

lorax

2:24 pm on Nov 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



I steer my start-up clients towards a pre-built package. It makes no sense for them to invest in a custom built solution until they've gotten their feet wet with ecommerce and realize how the game is played. An excellent startup solution can be had in almost any language. When you get to the level of knowing exactly what you want your cart to do (or not to do) and you have the cash flow to support a custom solution, only then would I encourage you to consider pursuing one.

And if I did go for a custom solution? I'd be building the code in C++ and compiling it within the Linux kernal for un ultra-fast, rock-solid solution that's darn near bullet proof.

mnjohn

2:32 pm on Nov 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Don't you mean "kernel"? Just a `lil friendly harassment...

I agree with lorax, RE: steering a client toward a pre-built, "more or less customizable" cart solution. That really is the best way to figure out the reality of your situation and not take a potentially serious beating in your wallet in course.