Initials Thoughts
Most of Chapter 1 was a review of the HTML class (CISW 111) but I did learn a few things. One of the things that I learned was that JavaScript is a client-side scripting language and that ASP.NET is a server-side scripting language. Also, calculations and data storage should be handled by ASP.NET and anything that deals with the interface such as validation of the data should be handled by JavaScript. This class is important because websites are evolving from relaying information only to selling products and services. Being able to allow the user to place orders online saves time and money for both the customer and company. Using ASP.NET allows companies to get the information entered by the customer, place this information into their database, and complete the order. The words "web programmer" are used in the same context as "web developer". This can mean different things to different people. I see a web programmer as more than just a person who can create a basic website and make it look "pretty". I see a web programmer as somebody who writes the code that makes the website interactive. This could involve anything from creating user accounts, gathering information (such as surveys), all the way to a full e-commerce website (such as Amazon.com) that allows credit cards to be accepted and orders to be placed.
.NET Languages
In Chapter 2, I learned about code render blocks, which are used to add code to a web page. There are two different types of code render blocks: inline code and inline expressions. For inline code types, delimiters "<%" and "%>" contain one or more lines of code that are valid for the scripting language that is being used. In our case, the scripting language that we are using is ASP.NET so either Visual Basic or C# language can be used. We will be using C#. For inline expression types, delimiters "<%=" and "%>" are using as a shortcut for calling the Response.Write() method to print text to the browser. Working with variables, constants, data types, expressions, operators, and operator precedence was not new to me but it was a good refresher. As mentioned, Visual Basic (VB) and C# are the two major languages in the .NET development environment. I have used both in my professional career but prefer C# over Visual Basic for several reasons. Microsoft uses C# for all its own internal development for .NET so there must be something about C# that even Microsoft prefers it over VB. The C# syntax for declaring variables is better than VB because the variable and its value are together. C# uses methods where VB has functions and subroutines. C# methods are better because the method name and its return type are right next to each other where finding the return type in a function in VB that has a lot of parameters can be a little dounting. C# statements end in semicolons so you always know where the end of the line of code is. C# requires curly braces around blocks of code. I like the use of the curly braces because they make the code easier to read. All said, C# requires less typing than VB, meaning more productivity.
Chapter 3 Reflection
In Chapter 3, I learned about using code declaration blocks and about the Request object. Code declaration blocks use script elements that contain global variables and ASP.NET functions. Code declaration blocks are better to use than code render blocks for more complex ASP.NET statements. Functions organize C# statements into one block of code. Function definitions should be placed above any calling statements, even though this is not a requirement. The Request object contains information for the current URL request from a client. The Request object uses data structures called collections that store object properties. ASP.NET adds all the named elements in a form on the user's browser as variables to the Form collection. The Form collection will be the collection of the Request object that will be used the most. The use of functions and decision-making statements in this chapter were not new to me but it was good to refresh my memory about the uses of theses.
Chapter 4 Reflection & Page Life Cycle
In Progress!