C++

Ok, I've got C++, what can I actually do? It doesn't look like VB .

[HarryW]

Errr.... well.... you can use pointers for one thing.

[parksie]

You can use inline asm (cool...), pointers (as Harry said), speed, macros, proper class inheritance.

And then some.

[V(ery) Basic]

References, Overloading, Polymorphism ... Oooh, there's also a minimise button.

[PsyVision]

Dont for get the Class View, Resource View 'AND' File View.

Now thats what i call um, lots of Views.

I think your question should be "What can't I do?". With C++, you can do almost anything.

[Vlatko]

Yes you can do almost everything in C++ but that isn't as easy as it sounds. In VB everything is served on a plate but in C++ you have to go a little deeper , to learn how windows works(messages,processes,threads,etc.). It is more powerful than VB but also much more difficult to learn.

[parksie]

I think choice of language depends on the balance between speed/size and implementation time. C++ falls nicely in the middle of short implementation (VB), and fast/small (asm).

[hitcgar]

If you're a working dev. then language choice is usually out of your hands and you have to 'accept' (read - put up with) the clients choice of dev tools.

Here at DMR Canada the only projects that I'm aware of that use C++ are military. Especially since VB5 & 6 where you can effeciently write COM components and Web apps.

Time and budget is always the clients concern. VB gets it done quickly and easily and with 900+ Mhz machines out there now and much faster to come they really don't care that much about VB being slightly slower on most things.

Not when slower means a 1 or 2 sec. diff in overall exec. time.

Sad but true.

Personally I think Java is the best choice these days - it has only one glaring fault - interpreted. But it goes anywhere, and does everything without pointers. But, it's still not perfect.

How do you define powerful anyway? In my experience powerful means - get the job done quick and easy with the least amount of bugs, frustration and lines of code.

C++ is fast and beautiful but VB is still much easier to use. The learning curve is near null and everyone's using it so IT resources for it are abundant.

Still C++ (or C) windows programming without MFC or whatever will help you learn the guts of Windows programming and how Windows works internally far more than most other dev languages.

Anyway, that's how I see it at this time.