Portal Offers Web Platform, Applications

Web Platform, a new portal on Microsoft’s Web site, offers a Platform Installer tool that simplifies download and installation of free components of Microsoft’s Web platform, such as Visual Studio Web Developer Express and SQL Server Express. An application gallery on the site showcases free downloadable third-party Web applications, and developers can add applications to the gallery for exposure to millions of Windows users. Web Platform may help Microsoft compete better with open source Web development technologies.

Platform Installer Consolidates Downloads

Introduced in Jan. 2009 and updated in March to coincide with the MIX ’09 Web design and development conference, the Web Platform site aims to create a tighter community around Microsoft’s Web development platform by offering a focus for tools and applications. Previously, downloads, documentation, and forums relating to the platform have been distributed across many sites with different domain names, such as asp.net, codeplex.com, and iis.net. Tools and technologies for .NET Web application development have long been freely available from Microsoft, but developers have had to track various sites manually and watch for announcements regarding new or updated components.