Not sure if this question applies to this forum but here goes.
Ive never used Umbraco before and although i have heard some positive stuff it seems like a tool that creates sites without writing any VB .Net code. Some of the positives ive heard of would be nice to integrate with my existing sites (such as database, current logged on user, permissions, ASP .Net controls, Our own validation code etc) but wondering what is and isnt possible? Ive also heard that Umbraco is more XML based and you need to know XML in order to use Umbraco. Would this mean any knowledge of the .Net Framework is considered irrelevant when using Umbraco?
The XML stigma is now also a myth: the Umbraco of today is no 'more XML based' than any other product (in as much that it will still use XML, but the difference being between a system using XML and you having to use XML to use a system.) This really stood for XSLT, but while that is supported (for whatever reasons) it is no longer a requirement.
Your knowledge of .NET is certainly not wasted on Umbraco. It's built using .NET and modern versions support scripting in C# and VB.NET out of the box (and sure support for other CLR languages is possible). So the BCL is supported and the Umbraco API.
So, what can't you do in Umbraco? This is a tough question for any technology that encompasses an entire area as complex as a CMS. It's like asking "what can't I do with C# as a language, or .NET as a framework?" - it's not like "what can't I do with this little DSL that's inherently limited in function?", which would be much more answerable. With a framework there has to be a level of trust that you endow the product with once you've made the decision invest in it. We say that Umbraco is a fully-fledged CMS enabling you to create fully-fledged ASP.NET based websites (with all the defects .NET has, along with any Umbraco has) productively and with a built-in content management development and sub-system.
Take it or leave it, but if you take it and come across something you can't do, then ask the community.
Other than that, all I can ask regarding what you can't do is: would a list of outstanding bugs in the latest release be enough information for you? I think not. Much else is highly subjective to situation an exceptional and there's no list (that I know of) of edge-case limitations or basic expected behaviour that isn't exhibited and so on.
Thanks for your reply. I asked an open question just in case someone mentioned a scenario where Umbraco would not be suitable for. A task or an example of what i would like to do is something along the lines of:
Use ASP .Net membership (to authenticate users which of course uses ASP .Net database)
Using the same ASP .Net database i would create additionaln tables depending on what i need the application to achieve.
Create a CMS using Umbraco but also using the above database to authenticate the user and their roles (i.e. admin can add new content, but a general user cant)
Overall use an N tier architecture.
As you can tell some of these tasks are using ASP .Net and some Umbraco. Is this something i could use Umbraco to work alongside with my ASP .Net site?
Umbraco and Visual Studio 2008+
Not sure if this question applies to this forum but here goes.
Ive never used Umbraco before and although i have heard some positive stuff it seems like a tool that creates sites without writing any VB .Net code. Some of the positives ive heard of would be nice to integrate with my existing sites (such as database, current logged on user, permissions, ASP .Net controls, Our own validation code etc) but wondering what is and isnt possible? Ive also heard that Umbraco is more XML based and you need to know XML in order to use Umbraco. Would this mean any knowledge of the .Net Framework is considered irrelevant when using Umbraco?
Thanks
The XML stigma is now also a myth: the Umbraco of today is no 'more XML based' than any other product (in as much that it will still use XML, but the difference being between a system using XML and you having to use XML to use a system.) This really stood for XSLT, but while that is supported (for whatever reasons) it is no longer a requirement.
Your knowledge of .NET is certainly not wasted on Umbraco. It's built using .NET and modern versions support scripting in C# and VB.NET out of the box (and sure support for other CLR languages is possible). So the BCL is supported and the Umbraco API.
So, what can't you do in Umbraco? This is a tough question for any technology that encompasses an entire area as complex as a CMS. It's like asking "what can't I do with C# as a language, or .NET as a framework?" - it's not like "what can't I do with this little DSL that's inherently limited in function?", which would be much more answerable. With a framework there has to be a level of trust that you endow the product with once you've made the decision invest in it. We say that Umbraco is a fully-fledged CMS enabling you to create fully-fledged ASP.NET based websites (with all the defects .NET has, along with any Umbraco has) productively and with a built-in content management development and sub-system.
Take it or leave it, but if you take it and come across something you can't do, then ask the community.
Other than that, all I can ask regarding what you can't do is: would a list of outstanding bugs in the latest release be enough information for you? I think not. Much else is highly subjective to situation an exceptional and there's no list (that I know of) of edge-case limitations or basic expected behaviour that isn't exhibited and so on.
Thanks for your reply. I asked an open question just in case someone mentioned a scenario where Umbraco would not be suitable for. A task or an example of what i would like to do is something along the lines of:
Use ASP .Net membership (to authenticate users which of course uses ASP .Net database)
Using the same ASP .Net database i would create additionaln tables depending on what i need the application to achieve.
Create a CMS using Umbraco but also using the above database to authenticate the user and their roles (i.e. admin can add new content, but a general user cant)
Overall use an N tier architecture.
As you can tell some of these tasks are using ASP .Net and some Umbraco. Is this something i could use Umbraco to work alongside with my ASP .Net site?
Thanks again
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