PHP to ASP.NET Migration Guide

Thinking about building a site with ASP.NET?
Looking to learn more about ASP.NET?

This page provides resources for PHP developers who are interested in learning more about building Web sites with ASP.NET.

On This Page

• Evaluating ASP.NET
• Getting Started with ASP.NET
• Migrating PHP applications to ASP.NET
• Getting your Questions Answered

Evaluating ASP.NET

Are you thinking about using ASP.NET but looking for more information before making a decision? You may find the following links useful:

• ASP.NET Feature Overview
• PHP to ASP.NET Migration Whitepaper
• Companies Using ASP.NET Today
• Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started With ASP.NET

There are a ton of online resources available, from free tools to samples and tutorials, as well as books and newsletters. We recommend three steps to get started:

1. Install Visual Web Developer: Visual Web Developer is a free tool for developing ASP.NET applications.
   Go to www.asp.net/webmatrix and follow the download and installation instructions.
2. Run through some tutorials:
   • Visual Web Developer Guided Tour: The Visual Web Developer Guided Tour is an introductory tutorial which will take you from building your first ASP.NET page to integrating data and creating web services.
   • ASP.NET Quickstart Tutorials: The Quickstart tutorials show you some of the advanced features of ASP.NET including caching, session state management, security, and deployment.
3. Explore the ASP.NET Starter Kits:

The ASP.NET Starter Kits are five samples applications available complete with source code to show you how to build real-world sites using ASP.NET. You might also be interested in DotNetNuke, a free content management system built on ASP.NET.

Introductory Articles and Webcasts

• Webcast: Introduction to ASP.NET
• Webcast: ASP.NET for PHP Developers: Introduction
• Article: Introduction to ASP.NET and Web Forms
• Article: Access Data with ASP.NET

More resources:

• ASP.NET Discussion Forums | PHP->ASP.NET Migration discussion
• ASP.NET Code Samples
• ASP.NET-oriented websites with more articles and samples
• ASP.NET Books
• ASP.NET User Groups
• ASP.NET Newsletter
• ASP.NET Web Hosters

Migrating PHP Applications to ASP.NET

Some developers may wish to migrate their existing PHP code to ASP.NET. The PHP to ASP.NET Migration Assistant is a utility to assist developers migrate their applications from PHP to ASP.NET. It does not make the conversion process completely automatic, but it will speed up a developers project by automating some of the steps required for migration.

Note: Migrating applications using the PHP to ASP.NET migration assistant often requires significant manual work after automated portion of the migration. In order to successfully complete this work, we recommend that the reader gain a solid understanding of ASP.NET using the other resources on this page prior to attempting a migration.

Learn more about the PHP to ASP.NET Migration Assistant.

Getting your PHP->ASP.NET Migration Questions Answered

Below is a list of frequently asked questions, if you dont see your question answered here, please consult the following discussion forums:

• Getting Started Forum:
  No question is too simple!
  
• PHP->ASP.NET Migration Forum:
  A great source of expert advice on how to best migrate your PHP development skills and applications to ASP.NET.
  
• How much does ASP.NET cost?
  ASP.NET is part of the Microsoft .NET Framework. The .NET Framework is a feature of Windows, and is available for download at no charge. You can develop ASP.NET sites using a text editor, but if youre looking for a development tool please see which development tools support ASP.NET?
  
• What operating does ASP.NET run on?
  ASP.NET runs on Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP Professional. Windows XP Home is also supported for development only using the Web Matrix development tool (which is available as a free download here).
  
• How do I get ASP.NET?
  You can get ASP.NET by installing the Microsoft .NET Framework. The .NET Framework is available in either a redistributable or SDK format. See this overview to learn more and install the .NET Framework.
  
• Whats the difference between ASP and ASP.NET?
  ASP (Active Server Pages) and ASP.NET are both server side technologies for building web sites and web applications, but ASP.NET is not simply a new version of ASP. ASP.NET has been entirely re-architected to provide a highly productive programming experience based on the .NET Framework, and a robust infrastructure for building reliable and scalable web applications. For an overview of ASP.NET enhancements click here.
  
• How does ASP.NET compare to PHP?
  Please see the PHP to ASP.NET Migration whitepaper for a comparison of ASP.NET and PHP. There is also an ongoing discussion about this topic on the PHP->ASP.NET Migration Forum.
  
• Are there any pre-built applications (like PHPNuke) available for ASP.NET?
  The ASP.NET Starter Kits are five end-to-end sample applications available complete with source code for you to download and incorporate in your applications. The Starter Kits include portals, web storefronts, line of business applications and more. There are also several ASP.NET source projects underway on SourceForge and the GotDotNet Workspaces. Additionally there are a ton of ASP.NET code samples available, including DotNetNuke, a free content management system built on ASP.NET.
  
• Which development tools support ASP.NET?
  You can develop ASP.NET sites in any text editor, but if you're looking for a development tool Microsoft offers two development tools which support ASP.NET: Visual Web Developer (available as a free download) and Visual Studio 2005. As well, Macromedia Dreamweaver MX, Borland C# Builder, also offer support for ASP.NET. Where can I find web hosters that support ASP.NET?Have a look at www.asp.net/hosters