What are the pros and cons of using C# with ASP.net instead of PHP on a website?

Question

Particularly for designing applications where the site owner can easily update information on the site in a simple interface. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

ASP.NET - PROS

1. Visual Studio

2. You can use C# in Non-Web Applications

3. Code Compiler

4. Arguably more dynamic

5. .net framework has tons of built in features which can be looked at as a pro or a con.

CONS

1. Not Open Source

2. Harder to Learn

3. Windows Platform Only

PHP - PROS

1. OPEN SOURCE

2. Cross Platform Capability

3. Easier to User the ASP

4. Arguably better with databases

CONS

1. Companies don't like to use open source a lot of time. I don't know why.

I use ASP.NET and I like it a lot but I think that PHP is just as good and they both have their place in web design.

Answer 2

.NET is a framework implemented for the C# language, pretty much 'the' framework for C#

ASP.NET

+ You get a lot 'for free' when using visual studio, drag and drop development etc.

+ Rapid development

- Horrible generated code

- Limited deployment

PHP is open source and as such has LOTS of frameworks (some on par with / better than .NET). I personally like CakePHP.

PHP

+ Deploy anywhere!

+ Tons of (unbiased) tutorials

- Horrible list of functions (which can and have been be tidied up with frameworks)

- Too easy to write horrible code with

I personally prefer PHP because I can build a simple page in a couple of minutes without fuss or spend some time on it and have something solid, secure and flexible. This is not as easy as ASP.NET

Answer 3

I'll add to that:

ASP.Net

  Written by Microsoft. (advantage?)

  More Powerful, but more complex

  On revision 3 (MS typically doesn't get it right until version 3)

  Is more familiar for programmers not used to the stateless web.

  Harder to write spaghetti code (not impossible, but harder)

  Add-Ons and modules cost money (but usually have support)

  Drag and Drop in Visual Studio (Good for beginners, but creates MESSY HTML)

PHP:

  Not written by Microsoft. (Advantage?)

  A tonne of free support, but not much beyond the basics

  EASY to write Spaghetti Code

  More straight-forward implementation (Code is written in-line)

  Usually lends itself to leaner HTML and better semantics (it takes a good programmer in ASP.Net to write clean HTML)

  Far more open-source support if you like learning on your own.