Conclusion

This chapter defines frameworks, discusses the basics of the .NET Framework, and shows how to build a simple portal framework. Frameworks offer significant benefits for developers and for businesses that rely on portals. They can reduce development time, technical risks, and maintenance costs. If you plan on developing multiple portals, the savings are even greater for the incremental portals that are developed.

The framework is the basis for coding custom modules and also provides integration points for other software products that may be included in the portal, whether they come from Microsoft or other vendors . It also simplifies team development by providing a common reference point and a set of standard objects and methods that can be reused by the entire project team.

While off-the-shelf products can get you started on your .NET portal, there are few businesses that don't need the tight connections with their line-of-business applications that the portal framework can provide. Many of these applications are custom and they often come from multiple vendors and are based on multiple technologies and products.

As you choose the features of your portal, consider how they fit into the framework that you are developing. As your framework grows in richness and functionality, you will find it more and more important to the success of your projects ”so much so that you wonder what you did without it.