Vb dot net compiler

Hi Y'all - -

Before anyone asks why in the world I'm still writing lots of VB 6.0 code, I'll make it totally clear, I'M CHEAP, actually I like frugal better. Doesn't sound quite so negative. Actually, I'd probably still be writing FORTRAN IV code if I still had a working compiler.

I've written lots and lots of VB 6.0 code over the years and am very proficient at doing so, BUT, the time is rapidly approaching when my VB 6.0 code will no longer run properly on whatever newer version of Windows will be coming down the pike, so it's becoming necessary to seriously look at buying and coming up to speed on a dot Net compiler. What is the best version to buy for strictly personal use?? I certainly don't want a version with minimal and/or stunted capabilities that won't do more than the very basics, but also can't afford a thousand dollar compiler either.

Suggestions will be much appreciated.

Brad
Rapid City, SD

The Express versions of Visual Studio which come at the very reasonable price of not so much as a brass farthing are more than adequate for most purposes. It's certainly more than adequate for 'personal use'.

As dunfiddlin says, the Express editions are free and can do what most beginners/hobbyists need. You should certainly start out using the appropriate Express edition(s) at least and then upgrade to the Professional edition only if and when you need to. Many of the features of the paid-for editions can be useful but certainly not essential and there are various features that can be replaced with third-party tools, many of which are free.

You do seem to have an aversion to "Express" since you mention not wanting a stunted version. I think you should thoroughly explore the Express version, though. The language itself is not stunted in any way in that version, what is stunted is a few things like deployment options. It may be that you would find that the difference between the Express and Professional versions is so insignificant to you that you need pay nothing at all. The major difference appears to be tools that are seldom used by many people.

One thing to note is that, somewhat unlike VB6, with .NET, you can write all your code in NotePad....if you are a total masochist. From the creation of the forms to evey scrap of code, it's all plain text. To be sure, the IDE makes it VASTLY easier to work with some of that text, especially when it comes to creating forms, but the result is still just plain text. So, removing language features from the Express edition doesn't make any sense at all, since you'd be able to add them right back in with Notepad. Therefore, it isn't language features that the Express version lacks, but IDE tools.