VB or C++?

What is better to use, VB or C++? :confused: Does C++ have an interface like VB, where I just drag and drop controls then program them. :) What one is easier to use?

-Phil
-"A answer started life, questions just keep it going!!!" :D

Always use VB.. :)

-Kayoca

Like almost everything else in life, it depends on the situation. Obviously, if you post a question like that on a VB board, you will get a VB answer. I am no exception. If you are programming an application that pushes a computer's power to the edge (say if you want to program a complex 3D engine), then C++ is much more powerful than VB, and carries much less overhead. But we rarely have to build applications that are extremely frame-rate sensitive, and for most apps, you will find that you can get a decent skeleton up in (at least) half the time in VB. Microsoft did come up with Visual C++, which is a definitely close to the VB environment that before, but it still can't compare with the ease of use of VB.

So there you have it. Ideally, learn both. But if you want to concentrate on one language (which I think is a good idea - I prefer to master a language instead of having sporadic knowledge of a whole buch of languages), evaluate what you want to do with your programming, and there are very good chances that the solution you come up with will be VB.

Hope this helps (and I welcome any other opinion)

JFDman

If you know how to make use of the Win32 API and sunclassing with your VB program, then you should be able to do a lot of thing beyond the normal VB function. Vb definately have a better GUI development environment as compare to VC++. So... make your decission aledi? :D

basically, once you know VB well, with API knowledge, then you're not far away from knowing c++ -especially if you do subclassing. C++ is harder syntax, and you have to handle messages, whereas VB maps them for you (well actaully with MFC c++ apps, MFC can map messages kinda like VB, only more complicated). For day to day apps, VB is almost always better, especially if you have a deadline :)

I won't lie to you. C++, well since we are all familar with processors on computers i'll use a simple analogy.
c++ to PIII 600 Mhz as VB to Pentium 133 Mhz.
Simple meaning C++ is faster. Much, much faster. VB has ease of use. Use what you want. You want speed but faster APP's use C++ you want ease of use and slower APP's use VB. Plus C++ code is more 'anal' meaning you mess up one line your whole program will not function! Vb has nice error MsgBoxes. Some people think VB is faster because they are ignorant. Also C++ programs are stand-a-lone meaning they run internally. VB needs the VB run-time files (around 2-3 meg). Probably another reason why C++ is faster. Another thing someone said before C++ is only good for high FPS apps. Not true probably any kind of APP created in VB and C++ that are the 'same' in feel code etc. C++ will make it run faster.

The purist in me really wants to do everything in c/c++. The language has an elegant simplicity and economy of expression coupled with being extraordinarily fast and efficient. But I find myself constantly seduced by the speed with which VB lets me get things done.

A good analogy would be VB is like custom ordering an automobile and being able to choose the look and feel of the upholstery, paint job, stereo system, etc. but you're pretty much stuck with a 4-cylinder engine and a standard Chevette body frame. With C++, you get the same choices, but you almost have to build your engine and body frame completely from scratch. Actually, app wizards and libraries make the task a lot easier and only somewhat more difficult than doing it in VB. But of course, there is also the much larger learning curve to get through before that point.

You can never be a true master of your computer with VB. You can with C++. But not everyone needs or wants to be a master.

C++ as most people should agree is faster. Which language is "better" in my opinion all depends on the user. Personally I perfer C++.

Don't believe any of these losers who say C++ is faster. Until you actually sit down and master VB and then start to compare speeds, you will notice not much of a speed difference. VB and VC++ use the same compiler (if you don't believe me ask Microsoft) meaning if you know how to program VB as well as a MASTER nothing in VC++ will be as fast as some of these people said, especially that stupid example of VB being a P133 and VC++ being a P3 600. The simplest way to refute to this poor statement is to say the user has had no experience whatsoever with VB programming (maybe he claims to use it, but a master? No way!). Obviously people should realise VC++ is a very strict language. There are barely 2 ways of programming the same structure. Meaning VC++ forces you to program one specific way, which is the fastest of all. That is also a reason why the compiler takes so many years of learning just to be called an Intermediate programmer.

If you stick with VB and master it, I assure you Microsoft over the next few years will promote VB so much more than VC++ and lift it right into the Speed winning game. Already VB 7 is aimed at complete OOP to challenge the power of C++ and Delphi, this obviously means the compiler speeds will be faster (Microsoft aren't fools). Some people in this world have it in their minds that C++ coding is simply some kind of god syntax. This is Bullshit, simply because other Basic compilers I have seen have proven to me that it is entirely possible to overcome C++ speeds and even match that of Assembler speeds in some conditions. If you don't believe me buy a copy of PowerBasic 6 for Windows or FutureBasic on the MAC. These versions of Basic compete brilliantly with C++ and are further ahead. The best way to look at VB's future is to judge the Creators (Microsoft the richest computer company) and look at other clones of the language and make up your own mind.

Alright, as far as VB and VC++ or C++ go we undertand your reasoning. But how about VB v.s. Delphi? Delphi is object oriented just like C++ and is also labeled in the R.A.D. development tools. Meaning we can whip out programs quickly, just like c++. I have seen alot of programs written in delphi that surpass the power of VB. If I'm way of base please let me know.

What is the better language to learn? VB or Delphi?

At the moment they both have equal highs and lows. VB will always remain easier to use than Delphi. If you are looking at a RAD development environment that can challenge C++ speeds right now, I would suggest you learn PowerBasic 6 (w/RAD tools) or Borland Delphi 5 (which is based on PASCAL). But since your question was which is the better to "learn" between VB and Delphi I would say VB. Simply because the long term benifits for VB offers way more than Delphi ever will. Also Microsoft has more marketing power above Borland, 3.2 million developers program for VB. If you learn VB now I assure you VB 7 will reward you for that wait. But as I said, if you need speed now (for games etc) use the tools I mentioned.


PS VB 7 vs Delphi 6 will be Interesting, but I'm betting VB 7 by a long shot.

People say C++ is faster, and some say if you master VB you will realize that its the same..... Well I think its not in the program that speeds it up.... its in the brain! I mean compare a crappy program made by C++ from a Well Mastered Program by VB.... You will get the result that VB is faster.... Its all in the Skills that the programmer carries, not in the tools they use!

c++ is faster if you code your program well, and ASM is faster still. However, unless you're doing a 3d engine or soemthing, there really isn't a lot of point in learning c++ to do your program, when it can be done (and debugged) in half the time in VB.
btw, I know c++ is faster, because i wrote my own DirectDraw surface loading routine in VB, and it's considerably slower than usign dd.CreateSurfaceFromFile. But it works, and I wrote it in 30mins :)

Kenny is right in some ways. It is faster if you write C++ programs very well. But to get to that stage it takes many years of experience, it's simply not worth it. By the time you start learning C++ now; imagine the next version of VB in 2 years time head to head with the fastest PC's around. As PC's get faster the speed gap between compilers decreases. And over that time VB will release new compilers that are much faster than there predecessors. Now I don't know what kind of computer Kenny was running for his test on the DirectDraw application, but I can tell you this, with every example on the DirectX 7 SDK there is not one scrap of speed difference between either languages. I am running a P3 667, 256 MB RAM and a 32 MB GE Force Card. Of course not everyone has a system this powerful, but in 2 years this will be below the standard I assure you that.

Hi,
If you want use your programs to make your work easier then use VB.
If you want to write programs to sell then use C++.
For myself, I use VB to to make my computer do a lot of the work that I would otherwise have to do manually. Back in the DOS days, I was able to write programs in a matter of minutes that took the C programmers days. (Notice no ++ after the C.) Sure the C programs performed each task in 42 seconds whereas mine took 49 but I had a three day head start.
Also there is no language that deals better with strings (Data) then (v)BASIC.
Al.

I think VB is easy to develop in. Although other languages has features that VB still misses, they will be added in the next version.

Check out http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/nextgen/language.asp
for more info.

Also the connection to databases using ADO is very easy.
Databaseprogramming is now fun.

Quality of a program is rarely dependent on the
language used...

So I think the better choice would have to depend
on which language you are more comfortable working
with...:);)

Go VB

MS and Big Bill have got a nice little niche in the market, and as they expand VB is becoming a lot more integrated with the rest of the package. The depth and breadth of its potential is becoming greater. With MS's new programming packages the differences between Wireless, OOP, DB, RAD, Internet programming, etc.. are vanishing. VB is being positioned as a single tool to perform most (and eventually, probably, all) programming functions. All wrapped up in Windows, of course, which comes all wrapped up in your new computer. I know some people have a problem with this. I don't. I figure that a little bit of standardisation could go a long way.
That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Sean is absolutely correct. I do not agree with the dude who said if you want to make money with a program use C++. Most business programs are made with VB. VB makes more money than C++. MYOB and Quicken, two of the biggest financial software packages were created with plain old VB. One of the best ActiveX controls developed (BestofWare SmartUI) was created entirely in VB 6. It is selling for over $200. The new power of the next major upgrade will lift these statistics. I predict VB will be in use for making products such as Office and Internet Explorer. As soon as the PC speeds are beyond that of memory or CPU needs VB will be the new standard for developing software. Also with the advent of 64-bit technology we will see major speed increases and memory handling.