Huthaifa Afanah

To Microsoft or not To Microsoft

In 1600 Shakespeare wrote “To be or not to be, that is the question” in his famous and well know play “Hamlet”. I will twist this statement a bit “To Microsoft or not To Microsoft, that is the question”.

Today while I was attending a workshop about business development I made a short conversation with one of the attendees – a freelance web developer- about Microsoft web development environment. He have a prejudgment says that using Microsoft tech’s costs a lot of money. He have no idea about the major move Microsoft did.

What options I have as a freelancer, MicroISV … etc?

What I tried to say that Microsoft provide developers with very impressive and powerful set of tools regardless the type of application –Web,Windows- . For example to develop a ASP.NET web application we can use:

• Visual Web Developer Express Edition: a  full featured IDE to build AJAX-enabled web pages and  Data driven applications.
• SQL Server Express: Simple and powerful database server.
• Web Development Server : Small web server embedded with Web Developer Express.
• ASP.NET and .Net Framework: Runtime and libraries  available with Windows operating system.

You can start developing web applications using these tools without need to install big scale development stuff.

What about other applications types?

And while you are using these tools you will feel comfortable if you moved to develop windows applications for example. Microsoft provide developers with another set of tools for windows application development just like Visual C#,VB.NET,C++ Express. You will be using the same languages, the same frameworks, same libraries and a common IDE. 

How it costs me when Microsofting?

The nice about all the above that they are available free of charge. You don’t need to pay a penny for that stuff. That’s real their is no catch ups or hidden traps and another good news is you can use it to build commercial products.

So you can start developing applications and make money without paying anything.

Is their is any limitations?

Yes, that’s for sure. These tools have limited features but I believe they are more than enough for developer with basic needs.

Is that good for software development in Palestine?

For sure. The Palestinian IT sector is still a growing one. People here have low living, limited finical resources, lake of opportunities and a weak economy. It’s hard enough for people to start up business in such circumstances. By using these tools you save your money to empower your business instead of spending large amount of money on buying software licenses.

In a future post I will talk about another offer Microsoft provide students with. Until that time I hope that helps

Huthaifa Afanah

Hello World! Hello Palestine!

Hello world … if you see this post then we made it and PalDev.Net see the light finally. We planned to relunch this user group before 6 months ago. Every time we tried to make some action delays and obstacles appeared. At last we are here and our  community is born.

Who are behind PalDev scene ?

A small group of active developers and IT professionals are behind this group. Who are they? You will find that by the time I am sure.

Who are the main players in this community PalDev?

Let me answer that: You are, indeed. The main players are passionate IT professional, developers, students and anyone related to the IT filed and interested in Microsoft technologies.

mmm… Then your are Microsoft guys!

Yes, that right. This group is all about Microsoft technologies and runs by people skilled in: ASP.NET, Windows Forms, CSharpers, MSSQL experts, .Net gurus … in general people who with Microsoft technologies background.

So my assumption is not wrong?

Ya ... the .Net in PalDev is willful. 

But I am xyz developer!

Ok … what’s wrong with that by visiting PalDev.Net you will have access to useful resources about many topics in IT field for sure you will be intrested in one of these topics … and who may know maybe you will be Microsofting very soon.

Ok , So what's your agenda?

Here in Palestine the IT industry in general and software development particularly is still amateur. This community is trying to help students, developers and the IT community by:

• Interact with the rest of the Microsoft community in Palestine and around the world.

• Exchange experiences, ideas and thoughts.

• Take an in-depth look at the latest technologies

• Engage in periodical sessions, workshops , and other helpful events. 

• Being updated with new Microsoft .NET products and technologies news.

• Get support from experienced people via forums, blogs and articles.

• Change the current passive culture in Palestine with new positive, innovative and open-minded one.

Ok that’s fine. What's Next?

Keep your self posted about PalDev coming events and news. Hope to see you soon.

Hope that helps,

Huthaifa