Web Development and Technology Microsoft .NET
In 2000, Microsoft announced its .NET software environment, a new addition to Windows. The .NET environment (“dot – net”) is effectively a “virtual computer” running on a real computer, with the advantage that any program written for it will run on any computer running .NET. An important aspect of the .NET strategy is its independence from a specific language or platform. Developers can create a .NET application in any .NET-compliant language and participate in the same software project by writing code in the .NET languages in which they are most proficient (such as Visual C++ .NET, Visual Basic .NET, C#, Perl, and others). Part of the .NET software environment includes .NET Active Server Pages (ASP) technology, which enables developers to develop applications for the Web.
The .Net architecture can exist on multiple platforms, further extending the portability of .NET programs. Additionally, the .NET software environment implies a new program development process that could change the way programs are written and run, leading to increased productivity.
The most important component of the .NET architecture is web services, which are applications that can be used over the Internet. An example of a web service is the tour operator’s flight reservation system. The tour operator wanted customers to be able to book flights from the tour operator’s website. To do so, the tour operator needed to access the airline’s reservation system. In response, a partner of the airline created a web service that allowed the tour operator to access the airline’s database and make reservations. Web services allow the two companies to communicate over the Web, even if they use different operating systems (the tour operator uses UNIX and the airline uses Windows). By creating a web service, the airline can allow other tour operators to use their reservation system without creating a new program.
The .NET strategy extends the concept of software reuse to the Internet, allowing developers to focus on their expertise without having to implement every component of each application. Instead, companies can buy web services and spend their time and energy developing their products.
The .NET strategy incorporates the idea of software reuse. When companies link their products in this way, a new user experience emerges. For example, an online store might purchase web services for online credit card payments, user authentication, and inventory databases to create an e-commerce website. The keys to this interaction are XML and SOAP, which allow the web service to communicate. XML gives meaning to data, and SOAP is the protocol that allows web services to easily communicate with each other. XML and SOAP work together by combining various web services to form applications.
Another important concept in .NET technology is universal data access. If there are two copies of a file (such as on a personal computer and a company computer), the newer version must be constantly updated, this is called file synchronization. If the separate versions of the file are different, they are out of sync and could lead to a fatal error. .NET data usage could reside in a central location instead of in separate systems. Any device connected to the Internet could access the data, which would then be properly formatted for use on the accessing device (a desktop PC, PDA, or other device). Thus, the same document could be viewed and edited without the need to synchronize the data, since it would be updated in the central area.