Asp.Net 4

[dukelips]

Is it a big learning curve to migrate the applications from asp.net 2 to asp.net 4. Please help

[johnblack]

We recently upgraded a web app from 2.0 to 3.5. The upgrade was relatively painless, however we're now finding little addons like the AjaxToolKit should be upgraded etc. Just little things to look out for. I'd guess same sort of issues would crop up in going from 2 to 4.

I know in VS2008 you can compile an app as 2.0 rather than 3.5. So assuming a similar option is available in VS2010, you could upgrade app fro 2.0 to 4.0 and yet still compile to 2.0. May make the process a little less painful.

[Ocean10000]

For the applications I have ported have gone over pretty well. They did change the Browser Definition files for Asp.Net 4. But if you are using Visual Studio 2010, you can still compile to 2.0 version without any problems, just can't use any of the new features in 4.0 of the framework.

[hal12b]

I've been using the free versions (Visual Web Developer 2005, then 2008, now 2010). What exactly are the difference between the free version and the $1,000 paid version? I can't seem to get a clear answer besides one compiles and the other doesn't. Thanks

[Ocean10000]

My understanding the Express versions of visual studio have a much narrower focus, and are geared for what Microsoft considers non-professional developers / Students. Meaning more advanced programing for mobile phones, databases , source control are not available in the Express versions.

Resources:
[en.wikipedia.org...]

Look at the "Editions feature grid"
[en.wikipedia.org...]

[hal12b]

Anybody else?

[johnblack]

There's probably a heap of differences between the two, here's an MS FAQ about Express - [microsoft.com ]

I use both and in my experience there's not much I do in the full version that I can't do in the Express versions. In other words I don't come across the differences generally.

Would you care to expand on

I can't seem to get a clear answer besides one compiles and the other doesn't.

as in my personal experience non-compilation tends to reflect more on my code than the dev environment :-)

[hal12b]

All that pages says is "Visual Web Developer 2008 Express is intended for non-professional, hobbyists, students and beginning Web developers who want to learn how to build ASP.NET 3.5 Web applications." in several locations on the page.

It would be nice if it actually said what the full version specifically offers. Since I use the Express edition along with everybody else here, I don't know what I am missing that's useful, if anything.

I thought somebody told me that the paid version compiles the code, so this might be useful if you are selling code and don't want people to steal all or part of if. I don't know if this is true though. We'll continue using Visual Web Developer 2010 Express until we see a need to upgrade... and we're not hobbyists... we have 500 employees here, pull in $100+ million a year.

[sbussing]

Hi hal12b,

beside compiling the code, which can also be done throug batch files, but VS does make it easier, in the paid version you are not stuck developing for web, in your case. In the paid version you can also develop windows app. Also you can choose to develope using vb.net, c#.net or c++.

It's also possible to work on teamdevelopment. Though I never used it. Or unit-testing. but if you don't need all the this stuff, just stick to the express edition.

Oh and BTW compiled code can be de-compiled. But I think compiled code will execute faster.

Hope this is helpfull for you.

[hal12b]

Hmm
I guess I really need to try the paid version because I don't see a reason to upgrade. We don't need to compile code, we only design for the web, and we use vb.net - all features on the free and paid version.