Vast numbers of people are attracted to ASP.NET because of the relative ease with which Web applications can be developed. However, many beginning developers often have no experience in building a full-scale application. They quickly run into problems as the complexity increases. This book addresses the desire among these developers for solid example code by giving them a completed application that they can personalize to their own needs, rather than having to start from scratch. The application is an online community -- the type of application that most novice ASP.NET developers want to build. Features such as dynamic news, updateable image galleries, Web logs, email newsletters, forums, events calendar and polls are all included. The example application is used as the basis for a variety of learning activities. After being introduced to the application, readers are guided through making progressively bigger changes to the code and adapting it to their own needs. This unique teaching style instills a sense of ownership that will give each reader the confidence to make further changes. By the time they have finished the book, each reader will have adapted the example application, making it their application.