What is SharePoint?

It's a common question very often I've been asked. Well , Microsoft defines "SharePoint is a Business Collaboration Platform for the Enterprise and the Internet". It's a perfect definition or IT Pros (esp. CXOs), but when it comes to Developers it requires more or different definition.

SharePoint first released in the year 2001 as SharePoint Portal 2001. Basically It's a portal which has functionalities for intranet website. The features can be used as it is or can be customized minimum level.

SharePoint 2007 is more refined version which came with bundle of new features likes Wikis, Blogs and more. SharePoint 2010 is more and more refined platform.

Why the term "Portal" changed to "Platform"?
A Portal is a website which has features on it to use whereas Platform is lying behind and on top of it custom applications can be built and make use of it. For Developers SharePoint is a .Net framework based platform. Applications/components developed in .net are come with SharePoint. So no need to develop them from scratch every time. When those built-in components are not sufficient then developers can write .net component and deploy on SharePoint. Components are called as "Webparts" which are customizable, reusable and connect-able. For SAP Enterprise portal developers, a Webpart is similar to SAP EP iView.

Where to start SharePoint 2010?
SharePoint has 2 important faces. It's Administration and Development. Administration is somewhat simpler than development (Again SharePoint administration sometimes requires much effort. Am talking in general). For any one who wish to learn SharePoint, Administration is perfect to start with. Once the SharePoint functionalities and features are well understood then can start learning development. Visual Studio 2010 is tightly integrated with SharePoint 2010 and reduces much effort which required in SharePoint 2007 with Visual Studio 2008.

Well will explain more about SharePoint 2010. Keep watching..