VB6 or VB.NET - Age old question.

I want to be able to write applications that install to a single directory without requiring the installing of DLL files or other files to the Windows directory or sub-directories. I want all my dlls and supporting files to be contained in a single folder or sub folders. It is my understanding that VB.NET does this but I have not been successful in getting that to work. I also do not want to have to install the .NET environment on a workstation just to support my application. My goal is to start developing software to sell (Shareware) and I need to be able to have a self contained install that would not affect the users workstation or configuration.

OK, I am getting a lot of views but no post. Either the question is to basic or not clear, I am not sure which. However, I did further research by going to Borders and spending a few hours hovering over books on VB.NET that should be sold by the pound and some nice tea. What I found was more snippets of VB.NET is great and it allows you to install into a single directory, ALMOST!!!. That is the part that I do not understand. So here is the question in a more simplified way. "What is the most popular development tool that is used to write Shareware applications today? I know that is very generic of a question and depends on a lot of variables but I would like to write database based applications such as Quicken - Any suggestions? Keep in mind that I already know VB6 and ASP.

VB.Net requires the .Net framework, VB6 requires the VB runtimes and the various control DLLs. Neither is standalone. That's one of the big drawbacks of both. To create real standalone apps you need C, C++, Pascal or Delphi.

I find there are actually a lot of buisness that want to migrate to the .Net platform but there are not as many .Net developers out there.

When deployed properly, .NET apps will run out of a single directory. You can even have two different versions of the same app that run side by side (in different irs) and they won't interfere with each other. Most of the books I've seen have delt with the development and barely touched the deployment side of things. It still requires an installer of somekind (which is usefull anyways to create short cuts and file references.)

Secondly, the user is going to HAVE to have the .NET framework. Now, you don't have to include it (it would be helpful though) as long as you gave then a URL to a website (MSDN) where they can d/l it and install it.

Mastering Visual Basic by Evangelos Petroutsos ($49.99 Sybex press - see Amazon.com for a sweet deal, $39.99 and free shipping, plus other deals too) had a small section on using the Install Project that comes with VS.NET to build an .msi install file (or a .cab for internet installing).

TG

I really appreciate the insights and information that everyone is providing in this thread. The decision that I am trying to make affects the path that I take over the next couple of years so I want to make the best decision possible. We all know the investment in time and money it takes to become proficient in a programming language. I have spent years on a part time bases developing small apps in VB6 and ASP. But I also know that many organizations such as the government have the workstation environment locked down. No .NET install is possible at this time and some individuals also run machines at home that may not have the storage capacity to upgrade to the .NET environment. I look at programs such as Quicken and say, how did they write that and how does it install and run so well on so many types of Windows machines. Hope you see what I mean. So every time I do find someone willing to talk about development of applications for commercial release they seem to be saying “C” . I know that this requires a considerable development investment but that is ok if the path gets me to where I want to be. I am also looking at MONO, an open source alternative to “C”. I would like to hear more from developers who have written software that is being sold today. Thanks everyone.

Actually Mono is an open-source emulator for .Net. C is completely independent of it. C# is the primary language of .Net (and currently the only one that works properly with Mono).

Okay..... so what you want to do is start developing "general-ware". Generalized software that anyone can buy off the shelf and it does what it does.

If that's the case, C or C++ might be in order as it's going to be the lowest common denominator.

TG

That’s it. I seem to have a real passion for applications that require little change to the workstations environment, are safe to install and run, and require little support. DONT WE ALL!!! But I have been a big supporter of Shareware and have purchased a large number of applications. Most are small and run from a single EXE with some supporting files that tag along. I can site some very good examples. One is a freeware program called Whisper that keeps track of passwords. Great little database program, just copy it to a folder and create a short cut. What could be easier. I also have a real passion for database applications with an easy UI on the front end. I believe there is still a big future in development of such programs. I will let the other programmers move on to apps for phones, wireless, wyfi, internet and corporate email type apps. I want to just write programs for the general home computer user. Still looks like I need to get into C. I have learned quite a bit about .NET from everyone’s comments, and there appears to be a slow movement from the development people to embrace .NET, do you find that this is true? There must be a good reason.

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Originally posted by MIKEADKINS
...and there appears to be a slow movement from the development people to embrace .NET, do you find that this is true? There must be a good reason.

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Actually, it's not true at all. I know of a lot of places that are now looking to go to .NET. The reason for the slow ramp up on .NET development is the learning curve. It's different from anything that's been done before. Many companies don't want to lose their investment in their existing code, which for the most part still works.

There's some places like here (where I work) that is (in my opinion) _never_ going to go .NET, simply because of politics, attitudes, and the amount of existing code that we have in VB6. In my next life everything will be .NET. Because it is the future, it's more powerfull than VB6. I see where you are comming from, and I don't know what to say. Yer stuck between technologies.

There is also nothing wrong with creatign an app that has some kind of system requirements which includes the .NET framework. Just throw the redistro onto the CD. I've had that happen a few times with DirectX drivers. The app I was installing needed a newer version, so it installs it.

TG

I know there are going to be many places that won't go to .Net, but I am willing to bet my future that 85-90% of VB6 shops will end up using .Net sometime in the future.

.Net is just WAY to powerful to still use VB6 for new development in most situations. I know VB6 will be used for a while, and I am not saying it shouldn't, but the change over will happen. Ask any .Net developer that used to code in VB6 if they would EVER choose VB6 over .Net. I don't think you will get many responses saying yes.

This tread is becoming very educational. Stay with the past for compatibility reasons or be bold and move to the future with .NET. I am leaning toward moving forward but still would like to hear more comments from commercial application developers. One example of a new program that I want to develop will have the look and feel of Intuit’s Quicken. This program handles data very effectively, does math calculations quickly, and seems to be compatible with just about any version of Windows it runs on. I would love to know what Quicken was written in. My ultimate goal is to develop applications of this caliber. Thanks again for everyone’s input.

Although you can certainly develop those types of apps with VB6 or .Net, they are not suited for it.

You should be looking at C++.

Once again, after asking the same question to a number of programmers, we end up at the same destination. Time would be well invested in making the commitment to move up from VB to C++. I am going to start working in this direction. The time spent may end up taking me to the level I want to be at. Thanks for everyone’s input and comments.

My first quest is to understand how C++ can do the job without the need of all the peripheral stuff that VB needs. Then it is on to mastering database connections.