Introduction

Why does the world need Yet Another Web Framework?

This is the question that is most likely on your mind —  or perhaps it’s what you were thinking when you saw this book sitting on the shelf. We each asked ourselves this many times over the last few years. Indeed there are many frameworks out there today fl  avored with every buzzword the industry can think of. In short, it’s easy to be skeptical. Yet as we, the authors, delve deeper into the latest and greatest web framework, we’re each starting to realize just how far the industry has come in the last 10 years. Rob began programming for the Web with Classic ASP in 1997 and was giddy with excitement. When .NET came out, he remembers running around his offi  ce, stopping everyone from working and explaining that the world just tilted on its axis.

We all feel the same way about ASP.NET MVC. Not because it’s “something different” but because it offers developers the ultimate chance to “do it their way.” You don’t like the way the platform renders the View? Change it! Just about every part of the ASP.NET MVC Framework is “swappable” —  if the shoes pinch, get different shoes. Don’t like ties? Why not a bow tie? You’re totally in control. ASP.NET MVC is a web framework that comes with a bunch of conventions to make your life easier when you follow them, but if you don’t want them, the framework is quick to step out of your way so that you can get your work done in the way you like.

This book is going to go into the “out-of-the-box” experience you’ll have with ASP.NET MVC, but more importantly you’ll learn practical ways that you can extend ASP.NET MVC with your own magic —  then hopefully share that magic with others.

Because of this extensibility and attention to “doing it your way,” we’re happy to embrace Yet Another Web Framework and hope you are willing to come along with us for the ride.