ASP.NET 2.0 Features

If you have worked with ASP.NET 1.x versions, you will undoubtedly agree that it was a great product
that provided huge improvements in the way web applications were designed and deployed. If
ASP.NET 1.x was a great product, then what’s wrong with it? Well, nothing, actually, but when developing
software, there is always a trade-off between how much can be done, how many resources you
have, and how much time you have to do it. There is an almost never-ending supply of features you
can add, but at some stage you have to ship the product. You cannot doubt that ASP.NET 1.0 shipped
with an impressive array of features, but the ASP.NET team members are ambitious, and they not only
had plans of their own but also listened to their users. ASP.NET 2.0 addresses the areas that both the
development team and users wanted to improve. The aims of the new version are:


❑ Reduce the number of lines of code required by 70%: The declarative programming
model freed developers from having to write reams of code, but there are still many scenarios
where this cannot be avoided. Data access is a great example, where the same
Connection, DataAdapter/DataSet, and Command/DataReader code is used regularly.
❑ Increase developer productivity: This partly relates to reducing the amount of code required,
but is also affected by more server controls encompassing complex functionality, as well as providing
better solutions for common web site scenarios (such as portals and personalized sites).
❑ Provide the fastest web server platform: Although ASP.NET 1.x offered a fast server platform,
ASP.NET 2.0 will improve areas such as application start-up times and provide better application
tracing and performance data. Innovative caching features will enhance application performance,
especially when SQL Server is used.
❑ Support for mobile development: In ASP.NET 1.0, the Microsoft Mobile Internet Toolkit (MMIT
in version 1.0 and ASP.NET Mobile Controls in version 1.1) provided this support, including
separate controls for building web pages suitable for small screen browsers. In ASP.NET 2.0, the
MMIT is no longer required because mobile support is built into all controls. This reduces the
amount of code required, as well as the need for specialist knowledge about mobile platforms.
❑ Provide the best hosting solution: With the large number of Internet applications being hosted,
it’s important to provide better solutions for hosters. For example, better management features
to identify and stop rogue applications will give hosters more control over their current environment.
More control can also be given to hosted companies by use of the new web-based
administration tool, allowing users to easily control the configuration of applications remotely.
❑ Provide easier and more sophisticated management features: Administration of ASP.NET applications
under version 1.x required manual editing of the XML configuration file, which is not a
great solution for administrators. Version 2.0 brings a graphical user interface–based administration
tool that is integrated with the Internet Information Services (IIS) administration tool.
❑ Easy implementation of entire scenarios: The better management features are built on top of a
management application programming interface (API), allowing custom administration programs
to be created. Along with application packaging, this will provide support for easily
deployable applications, with or without source.