>My boss gave me the dreaded "Can we make this program web-enabled?". Of course he is only asking for this since it seems to be the new buzz word. I have fairly solid VB experience and what to start developing my applications for our Intranet and possibly Internet. The only problem is I don't know where to start! I have found pockets of information all over MSDN and how to's on creating simple applications. But is this all VB can do with web apps? How much in the way of features are lost when proceeding with different types of web apps (web classes, DHMTL, etc.)? Anyone who can point me in the right direction will be in my good books from now till my last croak on my death bed.

Jason;

Take what I am about to say with a grain of salt.

Basic Questions:
1. What software (and version)is your corporate standard?
2. What Server Operation System (and version) are you using?
3. Will your company be migrating to Visual Studio 7.0 in the near future?

My experience in general on the topic of web development requires the following considerations:
1. For any given desktop application an equivalent web application will take longer to develop, and may not have the feature set of a complex desktop application.
2. There are many tools available to develop web applications. Visual Interdev 6.0 is one and is recommended by Microsoft. However, it will not be a part of Visual Studio 7.0. If you use this tool I recommend you do not use the DTC’s (design time controls). Write code to create each object!
3. Each methodology or approach to developing a web applications has certain limitations that you will realize perhaps when it is too late. This includes VB, CGI, DHTML, ASP, IIS, and you may add your own list of acronyms.
4. User interface and behavior may be very different from a professional desktop application.
5. What type of reports are required? How will they be generated?
6. You will use I.E. version 4 or greater. Be aware that versions 4.0, 5.0, and 5.5 behave differently. I have discovered several “quirks” that have allowed me to give true meaning to the term “I am having a Browser experience”! Some code will work and other code will not work – it is up to the browser. Netscape is not an option. That is a kind statement.
7. What backend will you use?


Now forgive me for the next question but I just have to do this! Why does your company want to do this? I know, it is the “latest – greatest – and all that”. Consider the following:

Microsoft web development using the existing technology has IMO hit the wall! Thus .NET is the “new” path, which is unproven but interesting none the less!
Anyway, if you knew last year’s acronyms and technology, which are all still in vogue (I do not consider Beta software “real”) you are about to become obsolete.

My suggestion is to define the needs of your company and create a list of required features. Then start asking questions about which tool and approach to take. There are many books on the market and I rate Wrox my favorite.

Web development is possible just be sure this is what you really want.


Tom