Windows Developer Power Tools

18.2 Creating Web Applications and Systems with DotNetNuke^[7]

A web application framework is a robust software library used as the basis for building advanced web applications. A web application framework typically contains a well-defined architecture and an abstract set of reusable components that are specifically designed to simplify development, enforce consistency, increase productivity, and improve application quality. Typical features include modular architecture, membership management, security and role management, site organization and navigation, error and event logging, data access and caching, search and syndication, and extensibility at every level. Frameworks are used by corporations, the public sector, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and even individual web sites.

Although the concept has always been relevant, web application frameworks have enjoyed a boost in popularity in recent years. This is likely a result of the ever-pervasive basic business philosophy emphasizing a reduction in the Total Cost of Ownership and an increase in the Return on Investment. Web application frameworks can provide big wins in both of these categories because they allow developers to focus on high-level business processes while leveraging a rock-solid application foundation.

DotNetNuke is a web application framework that provides developers with an extensible development environment, based on published standards and proven design patterns. Since web application frameworks are ...