Patrik Johansson wrote:
In our case it is more a matter if we should even consider DNN for a new project or not. We have used it a few times in the past with good results. But in order to consider it for any new projects, it would have to support MVC or at least show that it is coming soon. As it is now, we don't feel that this requirement is fulfilled and thats the reason I've kept asking for it. But overall I agree, better that something is working before it is released.
Let me tell you how I feel about this whole MVC thing. I am frustrated how things are being done.
- For months I asked about support for partial views. Never got a clear answer. Just one reply from Cathal that they are working on it. Not sure
- I have yet to see any MVC templates or installable running modules with sources. I just hear promises that they are coming .. from Joe or Christoc.. next week. That was weeks ago. Someone post links to SPA templates on Github. SPA templates are not MVC templates
- I tried creating a super simple MVC module and got an error. I posted the error in the forums and as a comment Joe's MVC blog. No replies.
- DNN 8 CTP7 was uploaded and the source package is actually the upgrade package. Someone left a comment on Nov 10 about this issue. There are 90 downloads of the package and I hope AT LEAST ONE PERSON noticed the error and notified dnnsoftware. I did. I DM'd Joe two days ago and it was a public tweet which means someone at dnnsoftware beside even Joe have read it. The source still points to the upgrade package. Where's everyone!? It's like a fire-and-forget situation. It's the holiday season. People are busy. Anyway, one can go back to ctp6's source package.
- With all this, dnnsoftware puts up a programming contest for DNN 8 with money prizes, when the things that programmers need are lacking. I hope the developers working on these modules are having a better time than I did. I don't have plans to enter the contest but I did want to try developing an MVC module for fun but I am not going to spend time anymore when I can't get the my first error resolved. I am already busy with other development projects.
- I am truly suspicious how DNN 8's MVC support will be. I get the feeling it will be lacking in some ways. Hybrid solutions are finicky. I was already told that routing in DNN 8 has limitations. Not sure what kind. If you're depending on third party MVC controls which heavily use routing, you might hit a roadblock with DNN 8.
- I am in a wait and see position. Waiting for proper documentation, templates, modules and contest results. Waiting for the final RTM version.
If you're wanting to build an MVC module now than later, you can start building it outside of DNN like any ASP.NET MVC app and then when DNN 8 is mature enough, take what you have and make it work as a module. That's if you want to save time.
Long or very long term is wait for DNN vNext with full MVC support to come out. When is it coming out is anyone's guess. I have come to believe any date on the DNN roadmap is pretty optimistic. I think vNext depends on ASP.NET 5 Core. This has some implications which developers should be aware of.
Sorry I didn't draw a rosy picture.