WebSite vs WebApplication

Question

User-1066344940 posted

I created a web site, that uses classes which I have in an App_Code folder. I also use some WebReferences like the GeoCodeService, RouteService, etc..., which I have in a App_WebReferences folder. I am using a SQL Server database for getting/updating/inserting data. I normally create new projects in VS as WebApps. I mistakenly created this project as a WebSite. I need to know the issues I wil face now when I deploy my site to the test server, and then production. I remember doing this before and I could not get it to work, and I had to recreate the whole project as a WebApp. I dont want to do this again. I understand that there are advantages and disadvantages to WebSite vs WebApplication. But my question is, can I just copy the whole project over and let IIS compile the site?

Answer 1

User1124521738 posted

you can just let VS convert to webapp http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa983476%28v=vs.100%29.aspx and http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/csharpide/thread/1c2cdfb5-2ca1-43d8-9932-962dc97110ba/

main advantage of a website is that if you need to change out some code, you just change the affected files and redeploy those files, but the cost is that the code won't be precompiled

main advantage of a web app is that it is compiled and can be more performant because the code doesn't have to be changed to the MSIL first, but the disadvantage is that if you change a few things, you might have to deploy a consolidated DLL, and then just the aspx/ascx/master and no cs or vb files (depending on your platform)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa730880%28v=vs.80%29.aspx it's a little dated, but the comparison still holds

also http://www.compiledthoughts.com/2008/05/web-site-vs-web-application-project.html

Answer 2

User-1066344940 posted

I read this article before, and I was looking for an easier softer way, lol. But, actually , this walkthrough was easy to understand, simple, and it did the trick. My web Site is converted.

Answer 3

User-1066344940 posted

Thanks allot for the info, it was perfect.