vb.net is scary!!

OK, so I'm definitely not the best programmer, but I've done pretty well at it so far.

Well, that was before I installed vb.net. OH MY!
Let me first explain that I've only programmed in VB, SQL, and Oracle and a little JavaScript here and there.
So, maybe .net is easier for people with a better grasp on other languages, either way I'm lost.

Where exactly is this "console" that I'm writing to when I'm reading a text file. Why can't I get data out of my arrays?
And I've got a slew of more questions.

I went over the FAQ, that's where I found how to open a text file and write to text file. But I think I'm missing some of the big picture, because it still doesn't work for me.

Does anyone know of any good tutorials or books.

Thanks!!!

Here is the best place I've found for general sample code (which is my preferred method of learning):

http://abstractvb.com/code.asp?F=1

Also, there are a number of ultra-boring Samples and Walkthroughs in the VS.NET Help as I'm sure you know.

I only have significant programming experience with VB 6.0 and I LOVE VB.NET. Maybe I'm too ignorant to know any better. It took me a while to get comfortable with VB.NET, but now I'd have a hard time going back to VB 6.0! Like most people I still have a lot to learn (just count my number of posts on this forum), but I've also done a number of things in VB.NET that I never attempted in VB 6.0. I only say all this so you know that there is hope.

Good luck! Lance

Stick with it. It is great.

I am currently learning C#, but the same still applies. This .Net stuff is awesome. I am having a steep learning curve too, but tell you what, I am doing things with .Net that I never would even have attempted with VB 6. The hard work to learn it IS worth it in the end. All it took for me was not having to write complex resize code on my first app, and I was hooked. I will get familiar with VB.Net when I get a good grasp on C#, but it won't be too hard because they share the same framework. That is another good thing about it, you can learn VB.Net and then quickly go over to C# because you are using the same framework classes to construct programs. Give it a couple solid weeks, it will grow on you.

The console is a MSDos type window with a command prompt to output your data to.
Make sure you put a Console.In.Readline() to pause the output console so you can see the results or the window will just flash by.
Do something like this:
Console.Out.WriteLine("Press the <Enter> key to end the program")
Console.In.ReadLine()
This will let you view what ever it is you are writing to the console.


Books:
I have Visual Basic.Net by example, ISBN 0789725835
and another i've seen posted but haven't looked at yet is Professional VB.Net, 2nd Edition, ISBN 1861007167. <i think thats the right ISBN>

so it isn't just me!!! - I struggled getting to grips with VB .Net to start with as well, thought it was mainly due to never having programmed using a class based language before, but like the other replies now I'm starting to get to grips with VB .Net I don't want to use nything else but each time I think I've got the hang of it, I have to soplve a different problem and a whole new learning curve opens up, it's scope is just awesome and I take my hat off to the team that pout it together, I find it superb.

Man i love it! It took me a while to get use to it but now that i have got the hang of it it is great it has so much cool stuff it is very exciting. Just wanted to let you know that if i can learn it then just stick with it and anyone can learn it!! I will say it agian I LOVE IT!

I think that the help that is with .net is great. It is far better than any book. If you look there you should be able to find what you are looking for.

Do you have the beta or the released version? microsoft's site has all the help out there as well if you are a member to MSDN.

I think learning VB.Net is going to be a pain for everyone. People who are comming from previous versions of visual basic will have to get up to date with the small diffrences and people comming from other langauges such as java will have to get use to visual basics tendency to be verbose. For instance every time you want to override a method you would have to add in the Overrides keyword. I guess stuff like this makes for good programming practices :p

Well actually, the Framework *looks* complicated at first, but it's all pretty straightforward.. good function names nicely ordened in namespaces.. things like data conversion etc. has never been easier... personally I prefer C# over VB.NET, but it's just the syntax...

but: the downside is that it's quite bloated.. a single Form takes up 10 MB of RAM (well its puts that mem away for it..), so that's why I'm back to C++ now, just the small amount of RAM it takes for an app... also.. the .NET apps start quite slowly over here..
But overall, for development, I think it's a great way to do things, the ease of most things just amazed me.

thank you so much, everyone.

I do feel a little bit better about all this. Hopefully I will catch on quickly.

I felt exactly the same too, to learn it properly, i suggest you get a book

there are lots of books available for vb.net now and thats the problem, which book do you get??

Well i got Mastering Visual Basic .NET, besides plain serious writing ( i like to laugh when reading a book ), code typos, it has helped me alot. It also doesnt assume you are a complete newbie and it will go into quite a few advanced features like graphics, web and databases.

The only downside to it, is thats it too bleeding heavy :D

But thanks to it, i learnt more about vb.net in 1 week than i have searching the net for 2 months


P.S check out c# samples too, vb.net and c# are basically the same language except a different code syntax ( i use c# samples quite alot and convert to vb.net )

If you get any bookm, make sure it has informtation on the actual .NET framework and classes. Dont get a book that only covers the VB .NET syntax. Knowing the VB synatx without understanding .NET is like being able to speak the English words but not understanding what in the world you are saying.. :)

That is the problem with many programmers is that they think that because they can type

If a = b Then


then they think they are a programmer, even though they rally dont have a basic understanding of exactly how an if statement works.

So again, make sure any book, at least your first book, covers some introductory to how .NET works and how to use the classes that comes with it.

Have you seen "The .NET Languages" yet? It's written for VB6 programmers learning .NET. The first half of the book shows you how to convert VB6 syntax to VB.NET (and C#!). The second half of the book covers converting your old code to the Framework (ADO.NET, strings, Forms, graphics, etc.). It will quickly show you what you need to know.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1893115488

The Core REference VB .NET book from Microsoft Press I just bought is awesome..Its got everything including most objects methods/properties and descriptions of what they do..the book is friggin huge too..About broke my arm picking it up..LOL
:D

It covers all the control, ASP .NET, Win32 specific stuff, and Web Service/Remoting..Its like many books in 1.

keep at it :)
.NET is great, beats the **** out of the old stuff ;)