Why Choose ColdFusion

Definition of 1:coldfusion
ColdFusion can be defined in two ways, it is both an application server and a programming language. Many developers often think of them as one thing, using the ColdFusion language (cfml-coldfusion Markup Language) to write the due process and run the written application on the ColdFusion server. But applications written in the ColdFusion language can run on other application servers that support CFML, such as the Java EE Application Server, which provides another, more concise, and efficient development language for high-end application servers. Whether you choose to use the ColdFusion application server or choose to use a different application server, the CFML language provides you with an effective solution for rapidly developing powerful applications.


How long has 2:coldfusion's history been?
ColdFusion began in 1995, is the oldest of the most mature Internet should have servers.


3: How many business organizations or individuals use ColdFusion?
There are over 10,000 organizations worldwide and more than 120,000 servers running ColdFusion.


4: How many developers are using ColdFusion?
Conservative estimate, about 350,000. But in fact the numbers are far greater than 350,000, a number of ColdFusion programs that can run on a server running ColdFusion, so there will be a lot of programmers developing on one server.


5: How successful ColdFusion is compared to other application servers.
Should be said to be very successful, ColdFusion is a commercial (need to Buy) application server leader, in the use of the second only to ASP. More than 75% of the Fortune 100 companies are using ColdFusion.


B6:coldfusion can write those types of applications.
ColdFusion can be used to write a wide variety of applications, including dynamic Internet sites, e-commerce sites or portals, but the main thing is a large number of intranet applications and database-related applications. This is always going to be ColdFusion's strength.


7: Why I can see the use of ColdFusion development site is not a lot.
In fact, the site developed with ColdFusion is very much. But since most ColdFusion applications are enterprise internal Internet applications and applications that are related to sensitive databases, they are not open to outsiders. So it doesn't look like a lot of coldfusion. If you want to know about the important enterprises in the use of ColdFusion please visit the following address: http://www.macromedia.com/
www.forta.com/cf/using/


8: Why those companies will pay to buy ColdFusion, instead of using ' Free ' ASP or PHP.
It's a bit exaggerated to say that some other application servers are free. Indeed, some application servers can be downloaded for free, but provide only some basic core functionality. There are a number of very important features and services available in ColdFusion, such as graph generation, Full-text search, and other useful modules such as file upload processing and email processing, and these modules are purchased separately in ASP or PHP. A recent estimate suggests that the total cost would reach 30,000 dollars if all the features provided by the ColdFusion Professional Edition were to be added to the ASP. Meanwhile, the ColdFusion Professional Edition, which sells less than $1000, integrates these features. This does not include learning that has been reduced due to the use of ColdFusion, and the cycles and costs of development.


9:coldfusion is not a proprietary technology, and the use of proprietary technology is difficult to secure.
No, ColdFusion is not a proprietary technology. In fact, there are a number of other products (through other vendors) are also used CFML (or part) to achieve. In addition, ColdFusion made full use of a wide range of publicly available technical standards, from database integration (JDBC, ODBC) to XML to implement configuration files to use Java EE as the underlying core of ColdFusion.


10: What is CFML.
CFML's full name is ColdFusion Markup Language, a language that is particularly suitable for writing Internet applications. Cfml looks less like a traditional programming language and is closer to HTML, so it's as easy to learn and easy to use as HTML. CFML can be run on a ColdFusion application server or some other application server.


11: Often see someone say CFML is not a real programming language, it is not it.
If you can write a program using CFML, it is certainly a programming language. One reason for this doubt is that CFML looks different from traditional programming languages (based on tags rather than scripting). Here are a few things we need to remember:
1 CFML is designed to imitate HTML, mainly because HTML is easy to learn and easy to use, and this is one of the reasons that HTML is the Internet's success.
2) CFML is fully compliant with the basic requirements of traditional programming (such as Process control, conditional judgment, and so on), and scripting can be achieved through new SSAS (Server-side ActionScript) in MX.
3 CFML is a powerful programming language that includes more than 100 tags and more than 200 functions to meet common programming needs as well as some infrequently used requirements such as LDAP interaction, processing of XML, support for COM and CORBA, graph generation and Full-text search.
4 more ironically, in the last 5 years, CFML is often said to be not a real programming language because it is a label-based language, But now you can see this style in the ASP.net, in the JSP actually also embedded in the Java code tags, let alone XML, is entirely based on the label. This shows that CFML go this way is right.


12: what is. CFM and. CFC.
CFML code is often saved as a file with a. CFM or. CFC extension. CFM is the standard extension of ColdFusion, which can be a normal text file, a file called by another file, or a custom label file. CFC is a ColdFusion component file (ColdFusion object that can be called repeatedly)


13:coldfusion is not just used to implement low-end or entry-level solutions.
Of course not. ColdFusion is just a tool, and what you can do with this tool depends entirely on your ability. For some beginners, ColdFusion is a simple technique, and it's really easy to use ColdFusion to develop simple products and entry-level solutions. But that's not to say that ColdFusion is only used to implement low-end or entry-level solutions. Unlike some of the other technologies that are very easy to learn, they can only be used to implement simple and limited functionality, and ColdFusion is useful for developing powerful solutions. In addition to some low-end, entry-level solutions, there are a number of high-end, critical solutions that are developed with ColdFusion.


14:coldfusion is not going to allow developers to develop irregular programming habits.
Of course not, ColdFusion provides all the necessary elements to write code that is strong, structured, easy to manage and maintain. ColdFusion does not force you to use some kind of development or logical approach, ColdFusion originally designed to enable developers to efficiently implement the required functionality in a simple language. Of course there are many developers who start writing code before they have a clear idea, and then refine his ideas at 1.1 points. In fact, not all program development needs to be strictly adhered to and adopted MVC design pattern. Of course ColdFusion fully supports the MVC design pattern (through the ColdFusion component) and is also used as much as possible. In other words, ColdFusion will not allow you to develop irregular programming habits and feel powerless in the future development process, no matter you are at that level of development, ColdFusion can always meet your requirements and help you make 1.1 points of progress.


15: I do not have any programming experience, ColdFusion is not also suitable for me.
Absolutely, of course you'd better have the basics of HTML and SQL, and if not, use Dreamweaver MX to do some development. Unlike other programming languages, which require a few weeks or months of learning, you can accomplish simple development after a few hours of learning coldfusion.


16: I am an experienced C or/and Java programmer, I have no need to use ColdFusion it.
C and Java are very powerful low-level programming languages and are ideal for writing background processes that require extremely strong processing power. However, they are very uncomfortable to generate HTML to browsers or to process forms in HTML. They have no advantage in this respect. In fact, a better plan is to combine coldfusion with them. Let ColdFusion handle the presentation layer and use C or Java to process the background.


17: I am a flash developer, need not use ColdFusion.
As a flash developer, you must be aware of the importance of developing an interactive Internet application that can bring users a rich experience. Flash is often used to make animations, profiles, ads, and special effects, but Flash can also be used to achieve more applications. Flash is ideal for use as a front-end interface for internet-based applications, and ColdFusion is perfect for flash processing background tasks. From the Macromedia launch of FLASHMX and Coldfusionmx, the combination of the two applications becomes very simple and efficient-flash as a customer and ColdFusion as a server.


18: Our company's technology selection is located in the Java-EE platform, is not to use ColdFusion it.
On the contrary, your company is choosing a very strategic plan to build your information platform, which allows you to use a number of powerful technologies, and is now more and more optimistic about the program. The Java platform provides a framework for building stable, robust and scalable applications. But it requires a higher cost (not just the cost of the software itself) the development of the Java platform is very complex, surpassing the capabilities of most of the company's technicians. And for those experienced Java programmers, not everything needs to be implemented in Java. The ColdFusion MX can run at the top of the Java EE platform, leveraging the strong structure and investment of the Java EE, and making it available to people who do not know how to use it. Or, in other words, in this way, ColdFusion MX enables people who do not know Java to take advantage of Java's powerful processing power while also accomplishing more application development. So choosing the Java EE does not mean giving up coldfusion, but it is a wise choice for you-you have spent a lot of cost, a little more coldfusion cost, you can make your information platform to achieve more functions.


The bottom of the 19:COLDFUSIONMX is based on Java technology, so what's the problem with Microsoft's Windows platform now or in the future?
Most of the ColdFusion are installed on Microsoft's Windows platform and use some Microsoft backend products such as SQL Server. So in any case, support for Microsoft's Windows platform will not be abandoned, and with ColdFusion MX's combination of. NET, this support is becoming more and more important. At the same time, ColdFusion can run on a large number of non-Microsoft platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, and HP-UX. You can also use a variety of databases, such as Oracle, DB2, and MySQL-so ColdFusion is the industry's most flexible product.


20: For any technology, an active user discussion group is one of the keys to success, ColdFusion has a similar user community.
ColdFusion users have always been very community-oriented, and ColdFusion's growth and development direction are largely determined by the ColdFusion user group. There are countless discussion groups, forums, publications and user groups and activities (including activities organized by Macromedia and non-Macromedia organizations).


21:macromedia will not devote himself to coldfusion development.
Sure it will. In fact, the latest version of ColdFusion (the first version developed entirely by Macromedia) was completed by one of the largest development groups in the history of ColdFusion, with a great deal of human and material resources. This demonstrates the commitment of Macromedia to ColdFusion and ColdFusion users.

about the author 
ben forta is macromedias senior product  Evangelist and the author of numerous books,including coldfusion 5  web 
application construction kit and its sequel, advanced  Coldfusion 5 development. ben is working on several new titles &NBSP
on coldfusion mx.