Introduction

Programming web applications is a great way to start your programming career. Using Web Matrix as your entry point makes even more sense. This lightweight visual development environment enables you to get a rapid, yet substantial introduction to web applications, after which you will surely want to learn more. Whether you want only to know the basics and produce a neat and workable website, or you aspire to greater things, this book will get you started on your journey, and we are confident you will enjoy the ride!

We are living in a world increasingly dominated by the Internet, with many possibilities evolving and vast numbers of people wanting to be part of this revolution. You may well have friends who have their own websites, talking about who they are and what they like. Wouldn't it be cool though, to have your own website that was dynamic, reacting to user input, displaying data, and giving your visitors a fun and interesting browsing experience? Of course it would, and these skills could start you off down the path to becoming a seasoned web developer, and getting your first job creating websites!

The ASP.NET Web Matrix Project is a great tool to use to start your path down this road. The pages you create using Web Matrix are built upon a Microsoft technology called ASP.NET. ASP.NET contains a powerful set of tools and functionality that developers can make use of to rapidly create the sorts of sites that really win when it comes to making functional and aesthetically pleasing sites. Web Matrix makes this process even easier, removing the need to type a lot of code by hand, enabling you to create impressive results in very little time.

Who is This Book For?

This book will teach even a novice programmer how to construct ASP.NET websites quickly and easily, concentrating on the tools you're likely to use from day to day. You don't need to have done programming before, not even simple HTML, though a reasonable understanding of what HTML is would probably help you to get started. Along the way, this book will occasionally touch on deeper subjects, but if you work through all the examples in the book, we'll hold your hand along the way and explain what's actually going on, building your knowledge step by step.