In Visual Studio, the normal placement of server-side script code is in a separate file, called filename.aspx.cs or filename.aspx.vb. These files are compiled to a project-level DLL that is referenced invisibly by the Web server. In Web Matrix, the server-side code is, as mentioned above, referenced inside the ASPX file in which it is used. This reduces scalability while improving simplicity. Since the goal of Web Matrix is to increase simplicity for those who need more basic services from the ASP.Net framework, this is a good move. The command line compiler must be used to compile class files
Although you can code DLLs, or class files, using Web Matrix, you can't compile them in the environment. Because the inline script doesn't require compilation, there was no need to add compile functionality to the software. This adds significantly to the simplicity, so I applaud the decision. To compile a class file, you must use the command-line compiler, which isn't as hard as it sounds. To compile a VB or C# file into a DLL, you just use the appropriate compiler command:vbc /target:library File.vbcsc /target:library File.cs Visual Studio is a comprehensive tool; ASP.Net Web Matrix is just for the Web
VS.Net includes many features that Web Matrix doesn't, but that is to be expected in a free tool. For instance, IntelliSense isn't implemented. You can't write Windows Forms at all or use the .Net Mobile Framework to write Mobile Windows Forms. There are no enterprise features, such as Server Explorer, Task List, or SourceSafe implementation. The options for coding style are practically nonexistent. There is no automation. The list goes on. On the other hand, VS.Net costs $1,000 and is a massive install. If all you need to do is add a response form to a Web site, this is the tool to do it, without a doubt. Some final thoughts
Microsoft's development environment has been a confusing mess since Visual Basic Version 2. In the Internet age, the InterDev tools became known as NotePad++ because the active elements were so immature. Tools like Macromedia's UltraDev were looking like much more realistic tools for coding in the advanced version of Windows DNA. And when the massive Visual Studio .Net went on the market, it seemed that the same would be true for simple programming in .Net. ASP.Net Web Matrix may change that. With its tightly coded, simple design -- and the price tag -- it has the potential to make life much easier for a number of Web site programmers and Webmasters in the real world. Download it and give it a try. At 1.2 megabytes and zero dollars, you don't have much to lose.
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