I have some basic questions regarding installing DotNetNuke and how to setup my Windows 7 Home PC environment for DNN module development with VisualStudio 2010.

I used Microsoft Web Platform to installed WebMatrix2. Then used theWebMatrix AppGallery to install DotNetNuke Community edition. WebMatrix alsoinstalled the necessary associated components such as SQLServer Express and IIS7.5 Express, etc.

Using WebMatrix I was able to run my first DNN website and login assuperuser and make edits to it. So far so good.

Next, I decided to try to set up Visual Studio 2010 to create a module forit. I downloaded and installed the MSBuild script and copied DotNetNuke C_Compiled Module.zip to the website folder called DesktopModules.

When I try to create a project (called TestModule) for module developmentbased on the DotNetNuke C# Compiled Module, Visual Studio throws this errorpopup message: "The Web Application Project TestModuleis configured to useIIS. The Web server http://dnndev/desktopmodules/TestModule/could not be found."

Question:

1. Do I need to install IIS as a service (WebMatrix did not need to)?

2. If so, should I forget using WebMatrix in the future if I want to do someoccasional module development?

3. Why does the error message refer to "dnndev" when my projectdoes not? Do I have to edit the config file?

4. Does IIS 7.5 Express work for module development in Visual Studio 2010.Does IIS 7.5 Express have a user interface console like the full IIS?

Thanks so very much for any help.

Thanks for your help! I installed the Visual Studio Startup Kit as you suggested and was able to create a new project based on the DotNetNuke Compiled Module. Prior to that, I followed Chris Hammond’s video tutorial (DotNetNuke Explained: Basic Module Development) and always got an error when I tried to create the project.  I’ve yet to create a DNN module, but at least am in the project now and can move forward.

As for IIS, I have Windows 7 Home Premium and IIS is not installed by default. WebMatrix does not seem to need IIS running as a service because it spins up an instance of IIS 7.5 Express as needed. Visual Studio 2010 doesn’t need an IIS service running either to create a DNN module project.

If I can avoid installing IIS as a service and just use IIS 7.5 Express via WebMatrix or Visual Studio, then I will do so for now, but may decide to install it later to take advantage of more features.  I’m trying to keep it simple for the time being.

Thank you.