Thanks, good points.

Yeah of course learning the .NET stuff is an issue for those that have never used it and in that situation you have to figure out do you get enough business gain from learning it.

One example of such a business case may be that you are selling a library that other developers can hook in to. In that case, if you know the majority of your customers are using the .NET framework, then it makes sense to develop using it. I also think that folk who are using MS stuff tend to be more willing to pay for software? This may not be true, I dunno?

Also, I think most good developers are always keen on learning new stuff, and if you have been taught well, you can normally pick this up pretty quickly. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to be learning new things as technology always moves. However, if the main goal is to get your business up and running very quickly it is defo best to stick to what you know. I agree.

Interesting points here, I hadn’t heard of BizSpark, it helps level the playing field a little when it comes to talking cost, although how much does this stuff cost long term? TCO, including retraining in the .NET framework would be a major factor.

I just want tools that let me get the job done at a reasonable cost. For anyone creating a startup (mISV), I’d assume they’d spend time and effort deciding which technology/platform is right to take your product in the direction you want, that includes current knowledge of the product team. There is no on-size fits all solution. If there is a business case for one vs the other, then that’s your technology.

Different goals, different tools. No one thing is best for everyone.

By the way, until Julien (he runs BizSpark) tells me different, I’m the #1 Network BizSpark Partner. contact me if you’re a startup, or want to start a startup and BizSpark will help you towards that goal.

You raise some very good points. I don’t want to lend or take away credibility from any of the articles you refer to, but I did want to clarify a couple of things.

> First, I’m going to have to purchase SQL Server, I can’t imagine it’s
> cheap, say around £800.

You can get the Web Edition of SQL Server 2008 (which is really for hosters or companies looking to deploy consumer facing websites) for not all that much – http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/pricing.aspx

> If memory serves me correctly it drastically reduces the cost of
> Microsoft development tools for mISVs – sorry I can’t remember the
> exact price but it’s low.

Startups who join BizSpark are sent an invoice for USD 100 when they leave the program. With BizSpark you can get tools and licenses for development and test, and licenses of Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 (among others) for use in production (for the same cost) for 3 years.

I think at the end of the day you can read a lot of articles, whitepapers and/or case studies tohelp you make a decision about the stack you want to go with, but it really comes down to what you are comfortable with and more importantly how productive it lets you be. Let me know if you are interested in joining BizSpark to play with some of our products.

best,

ai