1. Chapter 1 Introducing Web Portals and Dropthings.OmarALZabir.com

   1. Defining a Web Portal

   2. Defining a Web 2.0 Portal

   3. Using a Web Portal

   4. Navigating Dropthings

   5. Using ASP.NET AJAX

   6. Using C# 3.0 and .NET 3.5

   7. Summary

2. Chapter 2 Architecting the Web Portal and Widgets

   1. Object Model

   2. Using a Widget Framework

   3. Adding Widgets

   4. Maximizing the First-Visit Experience

   5. Rendering a Second-Visit Experience

   6. Improving ASP.NET AJAX Performance

   7. Adding Authentication and Authorization

   8. Preventing Denial-of-Service Attacks

   9. Summary

3. Chapter 3 Building the Web Layer Using ASP.NET AJAX

   1. Implementing the Start Page of a Web Portal

   2. Building a Custom Drag-and-Drop Extender for a Multicolumn Drop Zone

   3. Implementing WidgetContainer

   4. Building Widgets

   5. Page Switching: Simulating a Nonpostback Experience

   6. Using the Profile Object Inside a Web Service

   7. Implementing Authentication and Authorization

   8. Implementing Logout

   9. Summary

4. Chapter 4 Building the Data and Business Layers Using .NET 3.5

   1. Introducing LINQ to SQL

   2. Building the Data Access Layer Using LINQ to SQL

   3. Introducing Windows Workflow Foundation

   4. Building the Business Layer Using WF

   5. Implementing the DashboardFacade

   6. Summary

5. Chapter 5 Building Client-Side Widgets

   1. Delaying Server-Side Widget Loading

   2. Content Proxy

   3. Building a Client-Side RSS Widget

   4. Building a Client-Side Flickr Widget

   5. Summary

6. Chapter 6 Optimizing ASP.NET AJAX

   1. Combining Multiple Ajax Calls into One Call

   2. Timing and Ordering Ajax Calls to the Server

   3. Using HTTP GET Calls Instead of HTTP POST

   4. Working with the this Function

   5. Summary

7. Chapter 7 Creating Asynchronous, Transactional, Cache-Friendly Web Services

   1. Scalability Challenges with Web Services

   2. Asynchronous Web Methods

   3. Modifying the ASP.NET AJAX Framework to Handle Web Service Calls

   4. Developing Your Own Web Service Handler

   5. Making an Asynchronous and Cache-Friendly Proxy

   6. Scaling and Securing the Content Proxy

   7. Summary

8. Chapter 8 Improving Server-Side Performance and Scalability

   1. Instrumenting Your Code to Identify Performance Problems

   2. Optimizing the HTTP Pipeline

   3. Optimizing ASP.NET 2.0/3.5 Before Going Live

   4. Optimizing Queries in the ASP.NET Membership Tables

   5. Optimizing the ASP.NET 2.0/3.5 Profile Provider Before You Go Live

   6. ASP.NET Production Challenges

   7. Redirecting Traffic from an Old Web Site to a New One

   8. Summary

9. Chapter 9 Improving Client-Side Performance

   1. Understanding Web Caching

   2. Content Delivery Networks

   3. Optimizing Internet Explorer JavaScript Performance

   4. Reducing the Web Service Call Payload

   5. Loading the UI on Demand

   6. Using Read-Ahead Caching for Ajax Calls

   7. Hiding HTML Inside <textarea>

   8. Summary

10. Chapter 10 Solving Common Deployment, Hosting, and Production Challenges

    1. Deploying Your Web Site in a Web Farm

    2. Thirteen Production Disasters That Could Happen at Anytime

    3. Choosing the Right Hosting Provider

    4. Choosing a Web Site Monitoring Tool

    5. Configuring Proper Performance Counters

    6. Summary

1. Colophon

The animal on the cover of Building a Web 2.0 Portal with ASP.NET 3.5 is a giant green sea anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica). These anemones are found on rocks in tidal pools, rocky outcroppings, and concrete pilings from Alaska to Panama in intertidal and subtidal zones. The giant green sea anemone varies in size but can reach heights of 30 cm, have a 17 cm base, and a crown or head of 25 cm. The giant green sea anemone gets its color from green pigment in its epidermis, so the more sunlight it is exposed to, the more green it becomes. This anemone is a solitary and mostly stationary invertebrate from the Cnidaria phylum, which also includes jellyfish. Like a jellyfish, the giant green sea anemone stings its prey with poison tentacles and then draws the food to its mouth. These anemones enjoy a carnivorous diet of mussels, sea urchins, and small fish, and have been known to eat a giant crab in 15 minutes. Clownfish are immune to its stings and often have symbiotic relationships with anemones. Scientists are experimenting with the poison as a cardiotonic to help ailing human hearts.

The enemies of the giant green anemone include starfish, snails, and sea slugs. However, development in coastal areas, pollution, human foot traffic, and harvesting for home aquariums also pose significant threats.