Are there alternatives to ASP.NET for C# web development?

Question

Lately, I've been thinking that I'd like to try some new ideas and a new approach to web application design. I'm mostly used to using ASP.NET (.NET 2.0) but I've toyed with the ASP.NET MVC library a little bit as well. While both are powerful and interesting, I'd really like something more... basic.

Is there anything like that out there? I'd like a framework that's more transparent really: I want to be able to see the request, pass it where I want, render HTML the way I want, and post requests how I want. I can get all that in ASP.NET, but I have to dig pretty hard to get at all of it. I'd like something simpler to use as the basis for some new framework ideas.

So is there something like that out there? Or would I pretty much have to completely reinvent all the basic routing, request, and response code as well to get a platform to build up from?

Answer 1

You should look at Fubu MVC then - http://fubumvc.com/

Answer 2

There is the ASP.net Model View Presenter which may be something like what you are looking for.

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/architecture/ModelViewPresenter.aspx

Answer 3

I think you want the WebMatrix.

It's basicly a very simple (ASP like) model, but then coded with C# / .Net, and you get the @Razor syntax.

Answer 4

I would say if you are set on C# as your language ASP.net MVC is as good as it gets right now. You may want to experiment with other template engines like Spark or Nhamle.

Answer 5

I'm not sure if it fits your requirements, but you could definitely check out Manos (via Manos de Mono: The Manifesto)

Answer 6

It's not answering the question but I really strongly think you're making a mistake here.

MVC lets you deal with rendering in the way you want (it's not like the bad old webforms), HttpHandlers let you deal with Requests and Responses as low down as makes reasonable sense (to me). 99 times out of 100 you don't want to have to deal with the raw raw data coming from the web server (and what is raw anyway? "Request" is an abstraction itself...).

I think you have to look long and hard at your motivation and consider the practical costs if you could get there.

Answer 7

I would go and implement an HTTP handler using ASHX files. It gives all the power of ASP.NET object model but do not limit you on any special way of handling the request.

Answer 8

It sounds to me like you're looking for a microframework like Sinatra , but in c# instead of Ruby. I am not aware of any such framework.

I recommend you dive into Sinatra itself. Learning Ruby will help expand you as a developer, you'll be closer to the HTTP metal (which sounds like what you want), and it'll be fun. The minimalism and simplicity that it sounds like you're looking for is much more popular in the Ruby community.