Web Development Project

Hey Everyone,

I didnt really want to have to do this, I was hoping I could think of something on my own. But, I can't, so I'm asking for some ideas for a project to start developing. I have tried looking at other, "I need a project idea" threads, but only found windows development, or school homework projects. This is slightly different.

I'm thinking of starting a small software company, and by small, I mean, 1-2 projects, in my spare time. If it takes off, then I will invest more time into it, but at the moment, I just want a hobby thing.

Now, to the project ideas. Here are a few project parameters or constraints I would like to follow:

Web Based, ASP.NET
MS SQL Server 2005 as database engine
Alot of user interaction, so alot of AJAXy stuff.

Preferrably not something that has been done 500,000 times. Now this is because, well, its not a homework project, so I would like to release it to world, but think that having something done 500,000 times before is not a good start for my little company, as in, what can i do that other, better ones haven't, so people will use mine...

The project will initially be released as a Closed Source FREE to use where ever application. After the initial release, I will almost definately release it as open source.

I would Ideally love an application that I can market in 2 ways. If you have access to windows based hosting w/ sql server 2005, then, by all means, download and use to ur hearts content, if, however you dont, you may sign up and use the service through my website, which, of course, would be free.

If the project really takes off, then I would probably look at coding a PHP version for the non-windows users...(php5, mysql)

I cant really think of anything else at the moment that I would like the project to fit into, other than the above.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Cheers

ANy decent forum products for asp.net?

How about a Book Review product, note a few written in php but haven't seen any for asp.net yet. (Haven't exactly been checking them out mind).

A wiki style thing for a major sport ?

I don't have any ideas for you but a one thing struck me from reading your post.
Why would you write a web based app, make it Windows only and then rewrite it to be platform independant if popular. Make it platform independant from the get go and you won't have to rewrite anything.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by effekt26

The project will initially be released as a Closed Source FREE to use where ever application. After the initial release, I will almost definately release it as open source.

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If you are releasing the source for people to put on their site, it is open source. Unless some how you hash your code...

Some ideas might be a

• Grade Book
• Calender
• Daily Planner
• Social Network
• Blog
• Shopping Cart

I would not go with forum software because there are so many other great ones already out there like vBulletin & phpBB.

hey everyone, thanks for your replies...

i think i like the idea of a small project & issue tracking software...

just with regards about the open source, what is then, when they may use my code for free, but just cant change any of it?

i dont think there is a name. i think it is just, not open source. lol. Free software to use.

You really cant stop any one from editing your code...

Open source and being able to view the code are not the same thing. An open source software licence grants you certain rights: primarily, the right to make modifications to the code and release it as your version of the software, whilst giving due credit.
Any product that is written in a scripting language, such as PHP, must be distributed as source through necessity. However, that does not automatically grant you the right to release the source code gratis or modify it and release it as your own. These are different and separate ideas and should not be confused, and also why terms such as 'free software' and 'open source' can be confusing and misleading.