Where to start with ASP.net in C# and Dreamweaver?

Question

I am looking to start working on a personal site using C#. I work as a web developer and have used VBScript previously and am using Coldfusion now at work. I use Dreamweaver for development in these languages.

I have read a lot of people recommending that you should use a MS IDE to develop in .net and that C# is the way to go in terms of the language. I would like to stick with Dreamweaver as I feel I would be taking on a bit too much to learn how to use a new IDE and a new language at the same time.

Will using something like Visual Studio help with developing in .net so much that it is worth the effort of changing from Dreamweaver? If so which IDE would be best to learn with?

If I choose to stick with Dreamweaver is there any recommendations you can make as to how to best setup Dreamweaver for easy development?

Answer 1

Visual Studio 2008 will be probably better. Not only IntelliSense, but also debugging in JavaScript can be helpfull sometimes (don't know is it included in the Express edition).

Answer 2

I think you would be very disappointed with the ASP.NET support in Dreamweaver. You would be MUCH better off getting yourself a copy of Visual Studio / Web Developer (express editions are free) and doing your development there.

That said, there's no reason why you can't create your HTML and CSS in Dreamweaver, then bring those files into Visual Studio to actually put in the code. This is kind of a one-time deal though since usually once you've started splitting up your HTML into master pages and user controls/partial views, it's pretty difficult to go back and edit them again in Dreamweaver.