Why Use ASP.NET For Enterprise Software Applications

Choosing the right tech stack for creating software applications is often a serious challenge faced by developers. Tech stack is the combination of tools, frameworks and programming languages used in the creation of web applications.

Each application has two main components, known as ‘front end’ or ‘client side’ and ‘back end’ or ‘server side’. The term ‘technology stack’ was coined because the different layers of a single application are built on top of each other with the help of codes and other modules.

Web development companies are always under pressure to produce the best and most innovative products for its clients, so whenever cutting edge solutions make their appearance in the market, they are immediately researched for their advantages.

Microsoft created ASP.NET framework to cater to the changes that happens frequently in the app development world, and as an answer to the constantly changing demands of its clients.

About ASP.NET

ASP.NET is an open source server-side web application launched in the early 2000s and runs in Windows. This framework helps you to develop dynamic and feature rich applications, and websites, and it soon evolved to be the best server side scripting technology in its category.

It uses C# as its primary language, and with its compile-time error checks and strict type system, has proved to be more powerful than Javascript.

Enterprise applications

Enterprise applications, also known as enterprise softwares are applications that businesses use to aid in their business requirements, and are thus, mission critical, scalable, yet complex and component-based.

Being a business application they can be deployed across several platforms to reach different corporate networks through intranet and internet. They follow strict security measures, but are data centric and highly user-friendly.

The main challenge in building enterprise applications is that there are a hundreds of thousands of separate requirements to look at. And one requirement may affect the performance of the application, and several other requirements as well. So failure to meet one requirement, may affect the entire project.

Need for Dot Net technology for enterprise solutions

Enterprise apps have growing needs, and these can be easily handled by Microsoft Dot Net technology. A huge number of companies have realized this, and have already started using it. These are the main reasons why they do it:

1) Easy to use:

Being an open source platform, the framework has one of the biggest class libraries in the coding languages, and developers use this effectively. It is also possible to integrate this with all the databases. With simplified API, development is easy and less complex.

2) Easy to maintain

Through OOP or Object Oriented Programming, it is easy for developers to generate lesser number of codes, making it cleaner and easier to maintain. ASP.NET itself is written using OOP languages like C++, C#, or VB.net. Some developers believe that it gives them more control and freedom with the codes. You have reusable codes and several reusable components so making changes to program is easier. The framework delivers early binding, JIT compilation, caching services and native optimization support, thereby adding to the application’s powerful performance

3) Security

Microsoft has checked each layer of the technology stack for combating security vulnerabilities and thus, helps you deliver highly secure apps. And this is a boon because security is of immense importance in business apps. Instant alerts are given for memory leaks, unexpected behaviours and unbounded loops so you can quickly reverse them, and make the app secure. Implementing security involves the following:

  • Authentication
  • Authorisation
  • Confidentiality
  • Integrity

4) Easy to write

The fact that Dot Net follows C makes programming easier.

Content and program logic are separate, so they don’t have to write long lines of codes for writing enterprise applications.

And the framework is language dependent, making it convenient for developers to use their programming language of choice, depending on project requirements. Developing dynamic web pages have become easier, and flexible, thanks to ASP.NET core.

5) Boasts of powerful IDE

IDE like Visual Studio comes equipped with all the tools that developers need, including scalability. A number of extensions are also provided to design, program, test, debug and deploy apps, making it much better than frameworks like Java.

6) Provides rich caching environment

Dot Net provides three levels of caching for enhanced app performance – page level output caching, user control level output caching (fragment caching), and Cache API. Both output caching and fragment caching features are built in, adding to the performance level of program. Developers can also make use of the caching at every layer of the application because the cache API itself is flexible.

A few things to remember while using the framework

Now that we have established that ASP.NET is a major help in developing enterprise applications, it is also important that you keep in mind the following. This would help you enjoy optimal performance of the framework.

a) Use Session variables only when it is needed

Maintain a reasonable session time-out when you are working on the session variables. Otherwise, these could eat up considerable space in server memory, and the data storage in the server could get affected. Whenever you don’t need it, disable session variables.

b) Minimize View State impact

Server control uses View State mainly for pages posting data to themselves. This causes overhead on webpages, and must be totally avoided if you want optimal performance. However, remember to switch off View State manually, because it could automatically turn itself on.

c) Background Research for better performance

Before choosing the framework, perform research on how it would be suitable for your project. For code maintenance and better performance, you can utilise the layered approach and separate the different layers in data access, business and presentation.

Closing Thoughts

Explore the capabilities of Microsoft and its framework ASP.NET. No more roaming in the wild and worrying about the security of your apps, as the framework is equipped with the latest technologies to address all sorts of security breaches. There is support of all C-class languages including C++, and all the languages use the common libraries of ASP.NET. This mitigates any worries about compatibility or integration issues.

Interesting Articles:
All you should know about ASP.NET
Interesting answers on quora about advantages of ASP.NET for enterprise systems

Picture Source: Flickr.com/ ImagineCup/ Uri Baruchin


The author: Reema Oamkumar is engaged as a thought leader at www.Software-Developer-India.com which is a part of the YUHIRO Group. YUHIRO is a German-Indian enterprise which provides programmers to IT companies, agencies and IT departments.

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