Classic ASP Development and Support Services

Overview of Microsoft Classic ASP

The ASP in Classic ASP stands for Active Server Pages. It was and still is a language which is used to create web applications - specifically, applications that are dynamic meaning that the content changes based on who is accessing it, what they do with the application, and the time of the day. In short, it's a language that allows interactive web pages. 

Classic ASP

was one of the first scripting languages introduced by Microsoft onto the Internet when all and sundry were trying to find ways to improve the web experience. In that context, it was quite a breakthrough when it was introduced and though newer technologies have sprung up, Classic ASP is still used on a surprisingly large number of web sites - most of which were designed some time ago and see no reason to change yet, after all, why change something that is not broken?

How it works

Classic ASP works by selectively generating the HTML based on rules coded by the programmer. This means that an .asp page (if you see it as it's being written - not as it is displayed) contains HTML code along with Classic ASP code that dictates how the HTML is to be formed as the user is requesting it based on certain parameters. This gives the programmer fine grained control of what the user sees depending on the situation. Complex control sequences and database connectivity are built into ASP which allow programmers unlimited flexibility.

This led to what some people call "spaghetti code" with Classic ASP control structures weaved into HTML which made things a bit difficult to read and debug.

Support for Classic ASP

Microsoft has still kept support for Classic ASP over the IIS versions:

The use of ASP pages will be supported on Windows 8 for a minimum of 10 years from the Windows 8 release date.

By all accounts, Microsoft is slated to continue providing bug fixes and support for Classic ASP for some time. Classic ASP is included in Windows 8, and so will at least be supported as long as Windows 8 is supported.

Relevance of Classic ASP today

With the recent releases of ASP.NET and sophisticated PHP 7.0, Classic ASP is no longer actively used by a large number of people to develop new applications. However, there are plenty of web applications currently running that are scripted on Classic ASP and these Classic ASP sites need supporting.

Classic ASP support is therefore quite crucial for these applications and your web host will certainly provide this support on a Windows server to run the site, however you will need a classic ASP developer to maintain the site and upgrade, tweak, enhance on an ongoing basis. 

Classic ASP Developers 

We do have classic ASP developer skills serving Manchester, Stockport and the rest of the UK. Whilst we will encourage website owners to upgrade to the latest greatest technology for a whole host of other reasons (such as security, new features and so on), we also recognise there is a growing need to support classic ASP websites.

Sometimes moving to new technologies for the sake of it can prove neither helpful nor cost effective. Yet, if you’re a developer reading this and classic ASP isn’t your thing, it can be difficult (and often more time consuming!) for you to support and develop.

In these cases, you may wish to continue developing the website in its current form and this is where you then need to consider a team of classic ASP developers to help - thats where we come in.

Some Classic ASP websites are either too complex for the client to migrate or the client does not have a budget necessary to migrate to a suitable Content Management System (CMS). You may well have updates and fixes required in order to ensure it runs slick and secure. Perhaps you specifically would like a website security audit or code review of a classic ASP website? Whatever your requirement, Simon Antony can help - send us details of your project for a quote!

The history of websites we have worked with includes the entire Microsoft stack i.e. Classic ASP through to the latest ASP.Net versions. Many of which we continue to support and develop to this day. We don’t just specialise as Classic ASP developers, but also provide legacy support for Umbraco 4 and Umbraco 6 websites and also older versions of ASP.NET.

If you have project or need to develop or support Classic ASP websites, why not get it in touch and talk to us about it today?

We can point you in the right direction and give helpful advice along the way.