# I got thrown in the deep end \[developing an app\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 5, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-thrown-in-the-deep-end-developing-an-app/670467 "2013-10-05T22:28:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-thrown-in-the-deep-end-developing-an-app/670467/1 "2013-10-05T22:28:54Z")
I’ve gotten sucked into a project that is driving me crazy. I’m a SQL Server DBA by trade, so doing the back-end work isn’t going to be an issue. My problem is that I am NOT a web guru. I have to convert an app that currently runs in Access into a web application using [VB.net](http://VB.net) and talking to a SQL Server database. I have Visual Studio 2010 available, but my [VB.net](http://VB.net) skills have been limited to desktop apps. I am clueless about [ASP.Net](http://ASP.Net), PHP, etc. I need to become an instant expert. Does anyone have any suggestions on where/how to start? Better yet, does anyone have a project they can share with me that is multi-page, menu-driven data entry and reporting, so I can see what the code looks like and how to create something like that out of Visual Studio? Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-thrown-in-the-deep-end-developing-an-app/670467/2 "2013-10-05T23:30:46Z")
Since the OP is looking for advice, this is best suited to IMHO. Title edited to indicate subject. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-thrown-in-the-deep-end-developing-an-app/670467/3 "2013-10-05T23:35:57Z")
Why reinvent the wheel. Access databases can be shared on the web. > **[Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us?correlationid=677e6b4b-4f9e-4a8b-9473-4ef67d1ef9fb&ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us)** > > Microsoft support is here to help you with Microsoft products. Find how-to articles, videos, and training for Microsoft 365, Windows, Surface, and more. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-thrown-in-the-deep-end-developing-an-app/670467/4 "2013-10-07T08:56:46Z")
While I agree with the concept of not reinventing the wheel, I’ve not had terrific experiences with trying to share Access databases on the web. If you are committed to the .NET and SQL Server route, I strongly recommend Visual Studio LightSwitch, if you can get it. > **[Visual Studio LightSwitch](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/ff851953(v=vs.140)?redirectedfrom=MSDN)** It’s a heck of a lot faster than standard [VB.NET](http://VB.NET) for developing a standard-ish business application, because a lot of the boring work about setting up database connections and managing the user interface is done for you, and you just drag and drop things where you need them. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-thrown-in-the-deep-end-developing-an-app/670467/5 "2013-10-07T13:08:05Z")
1. Outsource it to someone in India for a fraction of your salary. 2. spend all day surfing the Dope and Reddit 3. profit! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-thrown-in-the-deep-end-developing-an-app/670467/6 "2013-10-07T16:02:47Z")
> [@Dervorin](#): > > While I agree with the concept of not reinventing the wheel, I’ve not had terrific experiences with trying to share Access databases on the web. If you are committed to the .NET and SQL Server route, I strongly recommend Visual Studio LightSwitch, if you can get it. > > [Visual Studio LightSwitch | Microsoft Learn](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/ff851953.aspx) > > It’s a heck of a lot faster than standard [VB.NET](http://VB.NET) for developing a standard-ish business application, because a lot of the boring work about setting up database connections and managing the user interface is done for you, and you just drag and drop things where you need them. Yep, this. Drag-and-drop. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-thrown-in-the-deep-end-developing-an-app/670467/7 "2013-10-07T18:52:49Z")
> [@Dervorin](#): > > While I agree with the concept of not reinventing the wheel, I’ve not had terrific experiences with trying to share Access databases on the web. If you are committed to the .NET and SQL Server route, I strongly recommend Visual Studio LightSwitch, if you can get it. > > [Visual Studio LightSwitch | Microsoft Learn](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/ff851953.aspx) > > It’s a heck of a lot faster than standard [VB.NET](http://VB.NET) for developing a standard-ish business application, because a lot of the boring work about setting up database connections and managing the user interface is done for you, and you just drag and drop things where you need them. I will definitely be checking this out. Thanks for the lead!