Difference between "Creating new website" and
"Creating new web project"

Hello

(Using VS2008)

I would like to know the difference between "Creating a New Website"
and "Creating a New Web project".

Thanks a lot.

Hi, 

the first one creates a web site using the web site project model (default in
VS2005) which is based on that you don't have a standalone project file, but
project contents are defined by physical directory structure. Basically a web
site project has also slightly different compilation model, for example not
everything in the project is necessarily built into single assembly, and you
don't necessarily have an explicit precompilation step (e.g a build in Vs) but
pages are compiled individually when they are requested

The second one creates a web application with web application project model,
where all the contents is specified in a project file, and also explicit
precompilation step exists. It's similar to the model which existed in VS2003.

Web Application Projects Overview
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa983474.aspx

What's New In Web Projects
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/f7fb46ye.aspx

is there any specific reasons on why a web application is better than a web site
or vice versa... i personally like the web site project type because I can
modifiy indvidual pages, easier. and if need be inside a text editor like
notepad++ and the changes take effect. also I'm more familiar with it.

JoshD82:

 is there any specific reasons on why a web application is better than a web
site or vice versa... i personally like the web site project type because I can
modifiy indvidual pages, easier. and if need be inside a text editor like
notepad++ and the changes take effect. also I'm more familiar with it.



In the end you can do the same things with both - approach is just bit different
- , but web site can cause pain with certain aspects since dynamic compilation
causes that you cannot for example reference code-behind types as easily in a
project - or because user controls are compiled after classes in App_Code but
before pages, while in web app these are all precompiled into single assembly so
referencing works always. 

But it mostly hits those who are already familiar with web app model from
VS2002/2003 times, since they find they cannot work similarly with a web site
project as before. I think those who have started with web site, are comfortable
with it, since they're used to its behavior.

Thanks!