Hey everyone,
I didn't see a beginners forum area so I guess I'll post here. I'll be creating my first "web app" (depending how you look at it) asap. Before I do this, there are things for me to consider. I work as a full-time programmer and have been using C#/.NET for the last two years. I'm not really too familiar with any of the CMS' out there or even frameworks. Let me describe what I'm "building" here:
Main page: blog-like entries: 2 main columns. Advertising sections(s), maybe something like 'submit to digg' or twitter after each post.
Discussion forum: allows users to create an account, post, discuss, etc.
That's all I can think of for now. Naturally, I'm inclined to use .NET since I know it moreso than say PHP. But! I don't want to be lazy now and pay the price later. The site/app has the potential to scale, but everyone thinks that about their app, ha. That's something to keep in mind.
I don't know PHP but could learn it I suppose. Is it better to use a CMS or would you suggest starting from scratch with something like .NET and building this thing the way I want to...? So that if I wanted to add features later, it wouldn't be as difficult. I do want this thing to be up and running asap (probably a small beta of the main page up and running within 1 month at most).
I do understand that some of the responses here might be biased, which is fine. I wonder what sites like Digg, Delicious, Faves, or even Facebook use (frameworks, or cms'). I haven't looked at the installation requirements of DNN, but I have IIS 5.1. Hopefully it's fine with that.
How many of you have created similar 'apps'/community sites and using what tools/languages? Throw any and all recommendations. Thank you!
p.s. try not to blast this n00b.
Suggestions? TIA.