your opinion needed please ...

This has probably been asked a thousand times, but if it has then I've missed 'em.

What please, is the advantages of me learning VC++ over VB ?
What can it do more / better ?

I find VB is easier for some small programs. If you just need a quick program that does some sort of equation, VB is better. I find VB much easier for winsock programs also. C++ is easier to use on larger projects, mostly because of classes and pointers. C++ is much harder to learn though. When you do I think you'll like it :D

My complaint with VB is it has no portablity. If you are only ever going to work in MS, then you can use VB.

I used to believe that there was some small measure of portablility in VC++, but now I am learning that there are so many MS specific things added to the language that its portablility is not that great. Though, if you do learn VC++, then you know enough C++ to rewrite the app for other platforms. And if you know a Real* Language such as C++, then you are that much closer to understanding pointers and classes and the memory management that will make it infinitely easier to learn Java (what I'm working toward) or Perl (if you have a desire). It is also easier to understand the syntax behind JavaScript (no relation to Java) and PHP.

* Real Lagnuages are those that have a governing body to standardize the language, such as IEEE, ANSI, W3C, EMCA, or Sun's Java Council (or whatever it is called). VB and VC++ have no such care for standardization since they are platform specific (WinTel).

C++ is also "the best" because of it's execution speed, great performance on the graphical area. And best of all.....No Run-Time files!!! :D
Like Steve said, it is hard to learn, but when you have learned it, you'll feel pretty good about yourself! :D

Someone else mentioned that, not too sure anyone would tell with excecution would they?
VB runs pretty much instantaneous at the mo :confused:

With the runtime files, you just need to distribute the exe and any dll's you create then? I guess you need to add the components like the commondialog control, or are these sort of compiled into the project? Oh lastly on this part, does VC++ have a P&D wizard type thing to track any files that are needed?

Hard to learn - not too worried about, how long did it take you guys ?

Thank you for all your help ;)

Well, I'm muttling (is that a word) along in VC++ right now. It is hard to say how long it took me to learn C++, but I had a semester of it at University. The syntax is not really a problem. It is somewhat strict, but the rules are simple. I had another semester learning data structures and playing around unions, structs, and classes (and I got some great techniques from the RA who ran the class). It seems though that I don't get a chance to use any of the really complex data structures I learned. Instead, everything gets dumped into a database. That is fine with me. Anyway... there were two other classes that were important, the Big O junk, and the processor technologies. There you appreciate memory management, blocking, and scope a little better.

Anyway... learning C++ is not a problem. Learning programming, in any language, takes some experience. And it is experience I don't feel one gets from VB (and possibly not from VC++, the jury is still out).

I started last summer...and now I'm working in windows :D At the moment I'm making a media player.

I've been seriously using C and C++ for the past 4 years now, and started Windows programming after 2.

And I wouldn't worry about VC++ being "incompatible"...if you write good code then it doesn't matter, and Windows programs will be unportable anyway ;)

Didn't we have a thread on why C++ over VB about a week ago?

I started learning C++ a few months ago, and I'm still learning! :D
I have bounced back and forward from Console apps to Windows, but I'm currently working with console apps to get the basic knowledge.(You should to if you don't know C++)

Regarding the P&D wizard, I believe it's only for VB.
There is a copy of InstallShield accompanying VC++

Good luck! :)

If you have version 6 then you can use the Visual Studio Installer which makes MS Installer files.

Is it availible from Micro$oft's site??

Yep :) It assumes you have a proper serial number though...