Seeking high-level explanation of .NET

Coming from PHP

[mgm_03]

I'm fairly comfortable with PHP but recently, have been asked by different people if I know .NET. I know zero about .NET.

Can someone tell me how .NET is different from server side scripting languages, how difficult is it to learn, and what advantages does it have over languages like PHP.

...or, pls direct me to a source explaining the above.

TIA...

[txbakers]

Here are some threads that might help you:

[webmasterworld.com...]

[webmasterworld.com...]

[Easy_Coder]

Can someone tell me how .NET is different from server side scripting languages, how difficult is it to learn, and what advantages does it have over languages like PHP.

Server side scripting languages are fantastic but they don't really give you Extensibility...

.net can be used at the desktop to create small or enterprise level applications for business, home or entertainment (games). Web services, mobile devices and network programming are a few other platforms that come to mind.

[mgm_03]

Thanks for the links and explanations, guys.

I think .net is not a direction I need to go in at this time.

[BradleyT]

Why not? It's much more powerful than PHP.

[mrMister]

Why not? It's much more powerful than PHP.

Yes, and a sledgehammer is much more powerful than a pair of nutcrackers.

It's all about using the right tool for the job.

[Easy_Coder]

I tend to agree with that ^.

mgm_03 might not need all of the features that .net has to complete his task. So if php can accomplish everything required and mgm_03 has skills with php and no skill with .net then the smart decision is being made.

[mgm_03]

Thanks again for the replies.... a turn of events has occurred and I am now involved in the planning stages of a potentially complex project... but it is directly related to my original question.

For initial prototyping we can use a PHP CMS (for proof of concept). Obviously, the final technology must be chosen intelligently, rather than by default (ie. use php because it's all I know).

Based on the range of opinions on virtually any question that comes up on any forum, I know that they can vary widely.

So, my question now is without the luxury of a having a CTO on hand, how would you start that investigation? ...aside from posting on BB's. Would you try to talk with another non-competing company to get their insights? Hire a consultant or two?

[txbakers]

bring in an "expert" in both technologies and have them fight it out to try to explain it to you.

[mgm_03]

That makes good sense and could be fun, too. Thanks.

[Red_Eye]

I would say that your starting point would be to develope a specification (which you may already have). Outline what is required and why it is important. That way you can ask the right questions.
As far as who to ask. I would say as many people as you can. One of the problems I find with consultants is that they tend to prefere the technology they know about (which I am sure is true of all of us). So try to get opinions from both camps (php & asp.net) they see how they compare to your specifiaction.

I used to develope with php all the time, but following a project where I had to start using .net I now use .net all the time. The odd bit of php comes up now and then, and I find myself frustrated by php (which is most probably down to the fact that I don't use it much any more).

I have found I can develope in .net more quickly and in a more structured way than I can with php (that is not to say that php is unstructured) I just find .net simpler and quicker.