.NET and Python

[Van Gale]

> Yeah, I get the same impression.  This time, though, where I meant
quality,
> was that better software is being produced by MS programmers.  Word and
> Excel 97 are somewhat buggy.  The definately improved them in their 2000
and
> XP releases.

That was pretty much my point.  Most, if not all, Microsoft products improve
with time.  They have the resources to keep plugging away.  The products
they have the hardest time with though, are networking products.  It seems
to me they have a hard time seeing the differences between the desktop and
the network.  So, with .NET, we have something that 1) is a framework that
hasn't been tested and doesn't even fully exist yet, 2) is for networking
applications, and 3) is getting the full marketing blitz.

Sorry, I'm putting my money on the bet that says it's years before .NET
becomes worth using.

> Of Apache/Mod-python, Apache/Webware or aolserver/PyWX, which would
> recommend?

Short answer to your question... Apache.

Longer answer... there are considerations external to your application
development, like:

Who are your system administrators?  If they're the kind of people who like
"certifications" you'll probably want to go with Apache.  Reasons: lots of
books, lots of implementations, it won't be perceived as fatal to career,
etc.  You're also more likely to find people with Apache admin skills.

It also depends on what other tools you'll be needing.  Who will be
generating website content?  If it's a large group of people you're going to
need some kind of content management system, so you'll either end up paying
bucks for a commercial one that only works with Apache, or you'll just use
Zope anyway in the backend.  That's a long way of saying Apache and Zope
will give you the most options for tools.  (It's conceivable to use Apache
on your productions servers, and Zope in the "back office" for content
management.)

So, Apache is a safe choice.  It's installed base and market acceptance
means you'll probably find the people and tools to get the job done and it
has acceptable performance.