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Formerly known as Atlas

You've probably read the news a hundred times around the blogosphere already, but that won't stop me from joining the chorus and adding my 2 cents.

The Microsoft AJAX (formerly known as DHTML) technology, codename Atlas, will be officially named... ASP.NET 7.0!

I was very skeptical at first... this is the explanation:

"ASP.NET 7.0 aptly identifies the technology for exactly what it is – the next version of our web developer framework."

"...The change is in name only and will not affect the technologies being delivered as part of the product. ASP.NET 7.0 is still comprised of the existing ASP.NET 2.0 components, including DataSource controls, the Provider model, and Master Pages & Themes, as well as new web 2.0 developer-focused innovative technologies like UpdatePanels and JSON serialization."

"...The ASP.NET platform has always been at the core of Atlas, but the Atlas brand didn’t convey this"

"...The name conveys the maturity of the platform by emphasizing that it has evolved from proven technology in production for over a decade, while also aligning it with the rest of the Web Tools Platform (IIS 7 + IE 7)."

Over a decade you ask? Follow along - it started with Active Server Pages 1, 2, & 3.0, changed the brand slightly to ASP.NET (4.0), ASP.NET 1.1 (5.0), and then most recently ASP.NET 2.0 (6.0). The next logical name of the development platform, ASP.NET 7.0, more accurately reflects this heritage.

(I can't help but suspect a little marketeering "two-upmanship" over the PHP 5 competition).

"In the specific example of ASP.NET 7.0, there is a lot of new compelling improvements to the technology that warrant a major version number for the redist"

"...We are confident that this change will go a long way towards reducing confusion people may have about our web developer platform and the technologies in which they should invest."

Reducing confusion? Ok, never mind what I said earlier about coming around.. this is ridiculous. If any of this bugs you like it bugs me, go sign the Reverse WinFX Petition.

This post was written using Windows Live Writer Beta. My source tells me that when it comes out of Beta, it will be renamed Word 13.

Update: You should probably read the follow up post regarding the naming of the Atlas framework.

Comments

huh?
scottgu - August 24, 2006 10:20pm
you look tired, get some sleep
Eber Irigoyen - August 24, 2006 11:09pm
Sorry, i don't believe you :-). What's your source? You seem to be the only one who blogged about this:
http://www.google.com/blogsearch?q=ASP.NET+7.0&btnG=Search+Blogs
Steven - August 25, 2006 05:19am
Steven - I referenced my source in the last 3 links of the post. If you read those, you will see where I got the quotes.
Josh - August 25, 2006 07:37am
Renaming Atlas to ASP.NET 7.0 is as ridiculous as renaming WinFX to the .NET Framework 3.0. And I bet this is exactly your point, isn't it?
Steven - August 25, 2006 09:06am
>t started with Active Server Pages 1, 2, & 3.0, changed the brand slightly to ASP.NET (4.0), ASP.NET 1.1 (5.0), and then most recently ASP.NET 2.0 (6.0). The next logical name of the development platform, ASP.NET 7.0

I suppose that Vista's calculator will be Calc 1342!
Vassilis - August 28, 2006 12:53pm