Welcome to WebSpark

Your Gateway to Innovative Web Applications

PromptSpark

Interact with many system prompts for Large Language Models (LLMs).

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AsyncSpark

Explore the power of asynchronous programming in .NET 8 with our comprehensive demonstration.

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DataSpark

With DataSpark, you can easily explore fundamental data science techniques, from data cleaning to basic statistical analysis, all using the familiar environment of .NET and simple CSV files.

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TriviaSpark

Engage in fun and challenging trivia games. TriviaSpark offers a variety of quizzes to test your knowledge and keep you entertained.

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WebSpark, developed by Mark Hazleton, is a family of web applications designed to enhance your digital experience. Built on the Microsoft .NET 8 framework and using Bootstrap 5, WebSpark offers a range of tools for various needs.

The Evolution of WebSpark

From Web Project Mechanics to WebSpark: A Journey of Innovation in Web CMS

My 25 year journey in web development began in 1999 when I purchased my first domain, Frogsfolly.com, and launched it using FrontPage to generate HTML files. This early experience laid the foundation for my understanding of web technologies.

WebSpark, my current web content management system (Web CMS), has a rich history that began with the creation of Web Project Mechanics. It all started as a way to share photos of my children in a private, protected way while my wife and I were on expatriate assignments in Poland and the UK. Initially developed using Java Server Pages (JSP), it was quickly migrated to the Microsoft Stack, including using MS-Access as the backing database.

  • 1999 - Purchased Frogsfolly.com and launched it using FrontPage to generate HTML files.
  • 2003 - Created a basic web CMS built with JSP at first and then with Active Server Pages.

  • 2002 - ASP.NET: Launch of the .NET Framework with support for Web Forms.
  • 2008 - Transitioned Web Project Mechanics to .NET Framework, enhancing performance and scalability.
ASP.NET was a game changer, enabling me to build a full CMS using an Access database backend. This multi-tenant solution hosted multiple sites, including ProjectMechanics.com, Frogsfolly.com, and ControlOrigins.com.

  • 2009 - ASP.NET MVC: Introduction of the MVC design pattern for web applications.
  • 2016 - ASP.NET Core: A cross-platform, high-performance framework.
Throughout this period, I kept the solution current with each ASP.NET upgrade to 4.8, hosting as many as 150 different domains on a single Access database.

  • 2020 - .NET 5: Unification of .NET Framework and .NET Core.
  • 2021 - .NET 6: Introduction of Long-Term Support (LTS).
  • 2022 - .NET 7: Focus on productivity enhancements and cloud-native applications.
  • 2023 - .NET 8: Further performance improvements and streamlined development features.
The strength and versatility of .NET Core, and eventually .NET 8, convinced me to rewrite Web Project Mechanics entirely, leading to the birth of WebSpark. Built with .NET 8 and Bootstrap 5, WebSpark offers a suite of applications like PromptSpark, RecipeSpark, and TriviaSpark, designed to meet modern digital needs.