Chapter 1
Understanding the SharePoint Hype
In This Chapter
Understanding what the big deal is about SharePoint
Exploring the benefits of SharePoint development
Discovering the pieces that go into the SharePoint stack
I had one simple idea about telling friends about arts and technology events. People in the community suggested everything else to us, and that’s our theme. We’re really run by the people who use the site. We just run the infrastructure, and help out with problems.
— Craig Newmark (founder, Craigslist.org)
Even though SharePoint implementations are way more common now than they used to be, I’m constantly amazed at how many nontechnical folks have heard about or used SharePoint. As a consultant and author, I’m constantly meeting new people from different walks of life. When the conversation gets around to what it is we do for a living — and I mention that I am a SharePoint consultant — the typical response is usually along the lines of, “Oh SharePoint! We use that at my work.” Or “Oh yes, I use SharePoint at work. Can you help me with this thing it’s been doing?” Or “I have heard of SharePoint. A friend of mine uses it.” On the one hand, it’s reassuring to know that ...
