Open Source Code
The core functionality of the EmpowerTM system is based upon the open source DotNetNuke system. This core software is developed through a tightly managed cooperative agreement with thirty core development companies and individuals. In addition countless other developers contribute functionality, bug fixes, and improvements to the system. DotNetNuke is currently in use by over 600,000 developers around the world., and it is consistently in the top 20 most popular projects at the leading SourceForge.net open source software web site.
Benefit
Due to the vast number of users and robust developer base, the core of the Empower system is heavily tested and nearly bug-free. In addition, new features are rapidly added to the system at a pace unmatched by traditional commercial software developed by a single company. The solidity of the DotNetNuke project exceeds other open source projects because its tightly managed core team is able to provide well-planed direction and oversight to the development of the DotNetNuke product.
Best Practices and Robust Development Platform
The Empower system is built using Microsoft’s latest development platform, ASP.NET. The .NET architecture is a revolutionary system that allows web applications to have the power and functionality of desktop applications. The .NET system is the most widely used object-oriented web development environment with tens of thousands of developers world wide (.NET Versus J2EE: .NET Has Clearly Arrived, Forrester Research, September 2004).
Microsoft’s best practices for software development are strictly adhered to throughout the Empower application. The application is strictly divided into data, application, business logic, and presentation layers. Microsoft’s “Application Blocks” are employed whenever possible.
Benefit
The core of the Empower system can be modified or extended by any developer with reasonably current technical skills. This reduces the cost of extending the system and ensures that the system will be supportable well into the future.
Supported by Microsoft ®
Microsoft® has been a long supporter of the open source core on which Empower is based. Microsoft has featured it at their Professional Developers Conference (PDC) and has also showcased it on several of their web sites and other media outlets.
Benefit
Because of this partnership with Microsoft, the core of the Empower system has become a showcase for the newest Microsoft technologies. This gives our development team advance access to the most current technologies and allows us to adapt the Empower system to deal with them before they are released to the general public. In addition, when our developers have a question or problem they have priority access to Microsoft staff. |