ASP.NET learning curve

[diwin]

Expert opinions sought.

I have a new job in a small staffing company that has no digital system for managing their obviously highly information-dependent business process. Because a lot of the jobs we staff are short term and short notice, info changes a lot. My non-tech-savvy entrepreneurial bosses expect me to design and re-design Excel spreadsheets regularly, under their direction, to include as many items as possible so things that got missed or lost last week don't get missed next week.

I am pulling my hair out! Even after several conversations where I have extolled the benefits of having me build an online database, I have been directed to sit here all day with my finger in the dyke, and accept that they "understand my frustration".

My experience is this:
Self-taught vbscript ASP programmer. I have done a few e-com sites using LaGarde's shopping cart in ASP, with substantial customizations. This led to...
Self-taught VBA programming, mostly in Access, also in CorelDraw 11, Excel. I have created a couple huge business management databases using DAO.

My dilemma:
Do I climb up the next couple rungs to ASP.NET/SQL Server and create a system that can be accessed by this office, head office, our supervisors at manufacturing plants, and after hours access for those emergencies? Or do I just slap together another DAO Access database to ease some of the burden at my desk?

How many hours will it take me to learn ASP.NET and SQL Server? Should I invest in a laptop so I can develop from one portable location?

Daniel Dillon
O o . (<--- brain shrinking at rate shown.)

 

[ca8msm]

How many hours will it take me to learn ASP.NET and SQL Server?

How long is a piece of string?

Seriously, I don't know how we can answer this question. It could take you anything from 1 hour to 10 years to learn how to develop the application you need. If it really is needed, and soon, then I'd stick with what you know and learn ASP.NET in your own time on a less crucial system.

Should I invest in a laptop so I can develop from one portable location?

I don't know. Do you need to be able to do this? Answering this question should answer your own question.


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Mark,
[URL unfurl="true"]http://aspnetlibrary.com[/url]
[URL unfurl="true"]http://mdssolutions.co.uk[/url] - Delivering professional ASP.NET solutions
[URL unfurl="true"]http://weblogs.asp.net/marksmith[/url]

 

[diwin]

Thanks Mark.

If I build an Access database, and it will not be split at all, nor SQL Server, because I don't know ADO, it will only be usable by me. That is a somewhat severe limitation, not just to use, but to the design. I don't understand networks, as I have not really worked on one, so I wonder if there is a way to use one access database effectively from 2 physical locations, connected only by internet.

Daniel Dillon
O o . (<--- brain shrinking at rate shown.)

 

[jmeckley]

asp and asp.net are as different as night and day. plus asp.net comes with the added joy of postbacks/viewstates. (no where else in the web developement world will you find this awkward, intrusive concepts. which I might add are very easy to depend on thus creating another learning curve if you every want to escape them.)

if your making an online app do you best to avoid MS Access. instead using an enterprise or Express version of some database MS SQL, SQL Express, MySql, Postgress, Firebird (i think thats the name of it). Oracle, etc. If money is an issue MS Sql Express is your best bet. there are some server restrictions, but since your working for a small company, this shouldn't be an issue. migration to Sql Server is also very easy (so M$ says).

In the begining of my career I depended heavily on the IDE and drag/drop controls. this became a maintaince nightmare for me. As my skills have progressed I try to rely more on code and markup rather then the "pretty" IDE features. It's much easier to write maintainable code. This also allows me to explore practices like unit testing, behavior driven design and automated testing.

if you're system is as simple as inputing data, just to retrieve the exact same data to view/edit then the M$ RAD development model would work well for you. If you have complex business practices which you are looking to automate/systemize then you should seriously concider OOP practices which would simplify the complexity of your processes.

My exprience has been the more code I place within a web application project and more specifically the code behind file. the more problems I run into because testing becomes a manual process (not automated).

Jason Meckley
Programmer
Specialty Bakers, Inc.

 

[diwin]

Next question:

Maybe I should contract this out. Would this be affordable? How would I locate an ASP.NET developer that would do a job like this for a small company? How would I determine what is a fair price what scale of product I can get for our limited budget?

Daniel Dillon
O o . (<--- brain shrinking at rate shown.)

 

[ca8msm]

Try a site like

http://www.guru.com

or

http://www.rentacoder.com

-------------------------------------------------------

Mark,
[URL unfurl="true"]http://aspnetlibrary.com[/url]
[URL unfurl="true"]http://mdssolutions.co.uk[/url] - Delivering professional ASP.NET solutions
[URL unfurl="true"]http://weblogs.asp.net/marksmith[/url]

 

[jmeckley]

1st gather your requirements. the more information you provide up front the closer the estimate will be from the contractor.
1. how many users should the system handel.
2. all business processes you want the system to automate. workflow diagrams will be invaluable
3. all reporting needs should be outline (mock reports in word/excel would be best.)
4. know your budget, how much can you spend.
5. know your time frame.

I live by the phrase "Good, Fast, Cheap. Pick 2.". the more my skills increase the smaller this gap becomes, but there is always a gap.

next ask people you know if they outsource it projects and if they have any recommendations.
then get at least 3 bids from different companies.
select the company that best meets your needs and go from there.
The most difficult part will be managing your employers expectations.

If your in the philly area I could recommend at least 2 companies. one is good friend of mine, the other is a contact i made at a training seminar.

the problem isn't if there is one, it's which one to choose.

finally, keep the system small in the begining. maybe just tracking the information in one place, without complex logic is a start. after that you could sell more automation to the owners and bid out for expansion.

if you try to contract out a full blown automated system in round one there is a high percent of failure rate, it will over budget and it wont' meet your expectation.
if you start small with the plan for a revision 1/2/n then you can work with the contractor to meet smaller goals in a shorter timeframe will increasing the effeciency of your company in incremental, but significant steps.

Jason Meckley
Programmer
Specialty Bakers, Inc.