I'm awake! ;-)
It would be easier to talk about the things that ASP and ASP.Net have in
common, than to talk about the differences between them. Why? Because they
have so LITTLE in common! But I'll start with what they DO have in common:
Both ASP and ASP.Net are ISAPIs for creating server-side web applications,
that is, applications that run in the context of a web server, and
dynamically create HTML documents (although ASP.Net encompasses far more
than just HTML documents, such as Web Services and other HTTP-related
services). In the context of web applications, both have an Application that
is defined by the web itself, that is, it's virtual file and folder
structure. Both have Session State, which is a method of sharing and
encapsulating data within the context of a single user Session. Both operate
within the context of HTTP, and are able to access the capabilities and
resources of the web server.
The differences are myriad. The most signifcant ones are:
1. ASP is a scripting technology, with great limitations, whereas ASP.Net is
a fully-compiled programming technology, with no limitations.
2. ASP is procedural, whereas ASP.Net is object-oriented.
3. ASP requires almost entirely hand-programming, although there are a few
tools for doing some simple programming trasks and debugging available.
ASP.Net is supported by the full capabilities of Microsoft Visual Studio,
and a host of other development environments. In addition, the .Net platform
has a plethora of ready-made Controls and Classes for use in ASP.Net
applications, which makes the development process much more productive.
4. ASP is fairly easy to do. ASP.Net is one of the most difficult
programming technologies to master. In fact, I do not know of anyone
personally who has mastered it yet!
--
HTH,
Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
The sun never sets on
the Kingdom of Heaven
