Comments for Practically Dutch

Comment on WebMatrix missed the boat, but Azure could rocket to the cloud. by Minka

Minka — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:49:17 +0000

I use WebMatrix because Razor is awesome. I have full access to .NET when needed but the complexity of Visual Studio is out of the way. It’s a simple IDE that I prefer over DreamWeaver and the like. It’s ideal for developing small to medium sized websites. I would not develop an enterprise scale application with it but that’s not what it’s intended for.

The new beta supports syntax help for CSS, HTML, Razor, and PHP. Publishing, testing, working with databases, and performance testing is easy. If you’re good at developing with a text editor, WebMatrix may likely appeal to you. Also, it’s free.

To your point about developing on the server – it’s doesn’t apply to many developers. I find it easier to develop locally because for me it’s faster. Unless you are developing on a dedicated server, having a local copy makes it easier to deploy to multiple servers and/or environments. Even if you are developing on server, WebMatrix still provides the same value as it does on a local machine.

To your point about One Click installs – how are you going to customize your code? In shared hosting environment, you would need to download the application folder, develop locally, and then upload the changes. On a dedicated machine, you are still going to use some application for developing – why not WebMatrix?

So who is WebMatrix for?

It’s for developers who prefer a simple yet powerful tool to develop small to medium sized websites/applications. Everyone has their preference when choosing tools like Coda, Textpad, etc. WebMatrix is a great choice especially for Windows machines and those who love Razor.

Comment on WebMatrix missed the boat, but Azure could rocket to the cloud. by Seth

Seth — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:10:48 +0000

Ok, but how is that any different from any other editor?

Comment on WebMatrix missed the boat, but Azure could rocket to the cloud. by ohnoezitasploded

ohnoezitasploded — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:05:13 +0000

I like it because I can work on the train where I don’t have a consistent internet connection. That’s super handy.

And for someone who is technically savvy with HTML and CSS, but just getting started with PHP and the rest, it’s about an ideal tool.

Comment on WebMatrix missed the boat, but Azure could rocket to the cloud. by chatte

chatte — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:18:02 +0000

SharePoint Designer 2007 is available as a FREE Download from microsloth and is effectively FrontPage 2007.

Comment on WebMatrix missed the boat, but Azure could rocket to the cloud. by Jong

Jong — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:21:26 +0000

Despite the fact that a web developer has to install several components to get WebMatrix to work, it’s worthwhile because it makes developing much more simple.

Comment on WebMatrix missed the boat, but Azure could rocket to the cloud. by Seth

Seth — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:22:44 +0000

Ok. Do you have any arguments in favor of the software?

Can you describe to me the developer that would use this software and why?

I’m open to hear the other side, if someone can show it to me.

Comment on WebMatrix missed the boat, but Azure could rocket to the cloud. by Mike

Mike — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:41:36 +0000

Your arguments against the software are pretty narrow and will not generally apply to all developers(or many developers).

Comment on WebMatrix missed the boat, but Azure could rocket to the cloud. by Seth

Seth — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:34:21 +0000

At this time, I can’t think of anything that qualifies as free…plus Azure or the cloud is free for now, but they will be charging for that.

You could go with WordPress.com but you are somewhat limited.

My advice is this: Don’t get hung up on “free”.

I’d suggest looking at one of the good discount hosts, like HostGator or Dreamhost. You get unlimited sites for around $6 a month. Depending on where you go, that could be less than a cup of coffee.

These hosts offer one click installs of all the latest open-source content management systems. I like WordPress. With just a few clicks, you’ll have a site up in running.

Check out wordpress.wp-expert-nyc.com to see some of my WordPress portfolio

Comment on WebMatrix missed the boat, but Azure could rocket to the cloud. by Donna Pence

Donna Pence — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:14:11 +0000

Thank you for this blog, I found it very helpful. I have used google sites to make a website and was looking for Microsoft’s equivalent. Obviously, this is not it. I want idiot friendly, cloud accessible, web site software, did I say free too? I am a teacher and Microsoft has been very good to me and I would like to impress them with my loyalty to their products. What do you suggest? Donna

Comment on Favorite Paid Keyword Research Tool by Seth

Seth — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 02:16:11 +0000

SEO Blogger – the one I was talking about in this post – is a plug-in for Firefox – not WordPress – so you shouldn’t need to upload it anywhere.