In the software development life cycle, once the project requirement phase is complete, it’s time for the technical architecture team to decide what will be technology we are going to opt for in order to achieve the requirements with development ease, meeting the timeline and quality. SharePoint 2010 and Asp.net are widely used technologies and deciding which one to use out of the two is really important in order to achieve the target in deadlines and increase productivity. So, building custom web applications in SharePoint 2010 or Asp.Net platform is an important decision from the client’s point of view and technical point of view.
What is SharePoint?
SharePoint is a web-based platform developed by Microsoft for collaboration and document management. It provides a centralized location for storing and managing documents, tools for team collaboration, business intelligence, workflow automation, and intranet portals. SharePoint is highly customizable and can be tailored to meet specific organizational needs.
What is Asp.net?
ASP.NET is a web application development framework developed by Microsoft. It allows developers to create dynamic web pages, web applications, and web services using languages such as C#, Visual Basic, and F#. ASP.NET provides a wide range of tools and features that make it easy to build web applications quickly, including pre-built templates, drag-and-drop interfaces, and a range of controls.
Advantages of SharePoint
For the applications that require the below features/points, SharePoint is best.
1. Collaboration
SharePoint enables users to collaborate on documents and projects in real time, providing features such as version control, document co-authoring, and task management.
2. Internet-facing website
SharePoint provides the capability to create an internet-facing website, allowing companies to create a public-facing website that can be accessed by external users.
3. Social networking
SharePoint provides social networking features such as blogs, wikis, communities, and discussion boards, enabling users to share information, ideas, and opinions.
4. Applications requiring browser-enable forms
SharePoint enables the creation of custom forms that can be filled out and submitted through a web browser, providing an efficient way to collect and manage data.
5. Enterprise search
SharePoint provides a powerful search engine that can be used to search for documents, content, and people across the organization.
6. Information portals
SharePoint provides the capability to create information portals, providing users with a central location for accessing information, documents, and resources.
7. Business intelligence and dashboards
SharePoint enables the creation of dashboards and reports, providing users with the ability to visualize and analyze data.
8. Workflows
SharePoint provides a workflow engine that can be used to automate business processes, such as document approval and review.
9. Content management
SharePoint enables the management of content across the organization, including document management, records management, and web content management.
10. MS Office integration
SharePoint integration with Office 365 provides seamless integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office applications.
11. External data systems integration via BCS
SharePoint provides the capability to integrate with external data sources using the Business Connectivity Services (BCS), enabling users to access and work with data from other systems.
12. Document management
SharePoint provides advanced document management features, including version control, check-in/check-out, document approval workflows, and retention policies.
Advantages of Asp.net
ASP.net also has several advantages, including:
1. Scalability
ASP.net provides a scalable platform for developing web applications. It can handle high volumes of traffic and requests, making it an excellent choice for large-scale applications.
2. Security
ASP.NET application has built-in security features that can help protect your application from common threats like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and more. It also provides tools for encryption, authentication, and authorization, making it easy to secure your application.
3. Rapid development
ASP.net provides a range of tools and features that make it easy to build web applications quickly. It has a drag-and-drop interface, pre-built templates, and a range of controls that can be used to build complex applications quickly.
4. Language support
ASP.net supports multiple programming languages, including C#, Visual Basic, and F#. This means you can choose the language that best suits your needs and skills.
5. Integration with other Microsoft tools
ASP.net also integrates with other Microsoft tools like Visual Studio, SQL Server, and Azure, making it easy to build, deploy, and manage web applications.
6. Community support
ASP.net has a large and active community of developers who contribute to the framework, develop plugins, and offer support to other developers.
7. Cross-platform development
With the introduction of .NET Core, ASP.net can now be used to develop web applications on Linux, macOS, and Windows, making it a versatile choice for developers.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between the Two
Here are some factors to consider when choosing between SharePoint and ASP.net:
1. Type of application
SharePoint is primarily used for developing intranet portals, collaboration tools, and document management systems. ASP.net, on the other hand, is more versatile and can be used for a wide range of web applications, including e-commerce sites, content management systems, and more.
2. Integration with other systems
SharePoint is designed to integrate with other Microsoft products like Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Power BI. If your application needs to integrate with these systems, SharePoint may be the better choice. However, if you need to integrate with other third-party systems, ASP.net may be a better choice as it supports a wider range of integration options.
3. Development time
SharePoint provides pre-built templates and tools for building web applications quickly, making it a good choice for projects with tight deadlines. ASP.net, on the other hand, provides more flexibility but may require more development time.
4. Customization
SharePoint provides a range of pre-built templates and features that can be customized to meet your needs. However, if you need more customization options, ASP.net provides greater flexibility.
5. User experience
SharePoint provides a user-friendly interface that can be customized to meet the needs of your users. ASP.net provides more flexibility but may require more development time to create a user-friendly interface.
6. Cost
SharePoint is typically more expensive than ASP.net, as it requires licensing fees and additional hardware to run. If cost is a factor, ASP.net may be a better choice.
Ultimately, the choice between SharePoint and ASP.net depends on the specific needs of your project, including the type of application, integration requirements, development time, customization needs, user experience, security requirements, and cost.
Conclusion
Deciding between SharePoint and ASP.NET requires careful consideration of various factors. SharePoint offers many out-of-the-box features and is ideal for applications that require collaboration, content management, and enterprise search. However, custom development in SharePoint can be complex, and development teams require specialized skills and knowledge of SharePoint-specific concepts.
On the other hand, ASP.NET is a suitable choice for applications that require extensive customisation, where SharePoint's out-of-the-box features may not be sufficient. ASP.NET also offers greater control over the application's architecture and can offer better performance than SharePoint for certain types of applications.
The above factors are highly taken into consideration when deciding the technology for web application development. Ultimately, the decision between SharePoint and ASP.NET depends on the specific needs and requirements of the project.
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