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Re:Microsoft ASP.net or Ruby on Rails? by ComputerGuru on Saturday June 14, 2008 @05:08AM (#217457)
Sorry, but IIS is free (assuming you have Windows) and I'm coding .NET and MySQL as I write this. Oh, and I've never seen a server run by a proper IT admin get a virus - only people who use the server as a workstation get infected.
Re:Microsoft ASP.net or Ruby on Rails? by swombat on Saturday June 14, 2008 @06:40AM (#217473)
Windows isn't free, though, and usually adds additional costs onto your hosting.
Re:Microsoft ASP.net or Ruby on Rails? by dbrush on Saturday June 14, 2008 @06:47AM (#217477)
These days not much. Additionally, Visual Studio Express is free.

Splashup.com is .NET, IIS, Windows Server 2003 and MySQL. It's never crashed unless I've borked something and it's been through a Techcrunch, Lifehacker, and Digg on the same day.

Re:Microsoft ASP.net or Ruby on Rails? by ericb on Saturday June 14, 2008 @12:06PM (#217563)
While this is true for shared hosts, if you want to install on your own machine, run test and dev servers (virtualized or no) or cloud-host your app, there is still a very real cost to windows licenses.
Re:Microsoft ASP.net or Ruby on Rails? by jshen on Saturday June 14, 2008 @03:07PM (#217641)
and sql server licenses and visual studio licenses, etc
Re:Microsoft ASP.net or Ruby on Rails? by grantc on Saturday June 14, 2008 @07:17PM (#217758)
Read up for the part where we discussed Visual Studio Express being free.

The amusing part about the free tools argument is that the cost of tools is such a non-concern in the professional world. I work for large customers on large projects and tools, whether they be Microsoft, Oracle or IBM, no one's worried about that.

Then again, you might be talking about little side projects, my frame of reference is mostly multi-million dollar systems.

Re:Microsoft ASP.net or Ruby on Rails? by ericb on Sunday June 15, 2008 @09:15AM (#218023)
Many people on HN are working for or on startups and bootstrapped projects. Implying any project concerned with the licensing cost is a little side project is disingenuous.

Even at large companies, all things being equal, having no licensing costs is a competitive advantage.

Re:Microsoft ASP.net or Ruby on Rails? by jcromartie on Saturday June 14, 2008 @08:24AM (#217495)
Two words: SQL slammer.
Re:Microsoft ASP.net or Ruby on Rails? by grantc on Saturday June 14, 2008 @10:04AM (#217523)
A.) 5 years ago B.) Only impacted unpatched servers C.) They said they were using MySQL anyway

Two words: hanging chad