Third Party Controls

[RobDog888]

Do you guys use or have used any third party controls in your apps?

If so can you post which and why.

Thanks

[RhinoBull]

Is that a survey for PC Magazine or something? What's the point?
You know perfectly well that we all use (or shall I say forced to use) third party's when available controls don't offer enough.

[RobDog888]

Its for my own personal decision/needs. With all the power in .NET to make it so easy to extend native controls I am curious to know if anyone in .net still uses them.

Plus for vb 6 users I think it may be more needed as creating controls are harder and less rhobust.

[zuperman]

No... only use windows forms native controls, windows forms derived controls and extenders, and made a few user controls and components...

I use 3rd party for evaluation only... and free ones:
http://www.stimulsoft.com/
http://www.componentfactory.com/
http://www.devexpress.com/
http://www.codeplex.com/ASCENDNET

[RobDog888]

That second link Ive seen before as its pretty good and $149 is not extreme either.

But why evaluate them if you dont use them?

[RhinoBull]

But why evaluate them if you dont use them?

I'm curious myself?

[zuperman]

That second link Ive seen before as its pretty good and $149 is not extreme either.

But why evaluate them if you dont use them?

yep... Phil has a great toolkit... free by the way... just dont like the make on demand... but is just my opinion...

I evaluate them just to have the feel...
and i like to stay in touch of good free products...

[RhinoBull]

Plus for vb 6 users I think it may be more needed as creating controls are harder and less rhobust.

I don't believe I've mentioned any language so it's got nothing to do with VB6 or Delphi or C++ for that matter...

[zuperman]

...and i should say that i dont use them cause i havent feel the need...

[RobDog888]

Well my point on that is that if its easy to create a usercontrol in .net vs vb 6 there would be more users creating their own and less using third party premade ones.

Yes, we use them when warrented but how often is that? How likely are you to use one or not. Purchase vs free ones etc.

[RhinoBull]

Third party's usage depends on many factors and price tag is usually one of last on the list (that's for enterprise development of course).
It is justified only (in my opinion) when available components don't offer enough power/flexibility/etc or perhaps development team is in a serious dead line time frame.

[zuperman]

It is justified only (in my opinion) when available components don't offer enough power/flexibility/etc

I would like to read about a real example of what you posted... and what were the 3rd party components evaluated, and the one you bought...

[RobDog888]

Good idea. Any experiences with and prices, what you tend to look for and stay away from etc.

I look for active progress on developing new versions and bug fixes, prices less then $100, and redistribution licensing that allows me to redist transparent to the end user.

[RhinoBull]

I would like to read about a real example of what you posted...

Alright, here is one of many - company needed to build new app with Outlook type gui.
MS doesn't offer such component and to make user control may take significant amount of time.
So what you do? You hire few consultants (may eventually cost you more) or buy third party - Infragistics or Janus Systems or perhaps some others depending on your budget.

btw, that is a real life case.