Any previous perl/c++/linux/mac programmers here?

[aristoxenus]

I'm considering a job where the apps in development all use VB6. I've been using open-source tools on unixey platforms for years and perl is my favorite language. Am i going to go crazy giving all that up for the microsoft IDE, lock-in, and Visual Basic??

I like everything else about the job, and am ready to have an open mind about VB, but it's like... alien! My friends are warning me to stay away. What do you guys say?

[StrangerInBeijing]

I guess it depends on what your future plans and goals are.
Adding a skill is always a good thing, but VB6? Don't know (yeah right, shoot me while i'm talking!)
Unless you get a hellova pay, Coke Machine, office you can smoke in, a hot PA, and all that! I'll code Assembler in Notepad if I can just get to work in a darn office!!!

[wossname]

VB6 is obsolescent. It's not even worth your time considering VB6 when VB.Net tools are easily available, you'll be used to writing object oriented code if you come from a Unix background anyway so moving to VB6 would be a major step backwards.

I'd recommend C# anyway.

[wossname]

I guess it depends on what your future plans and goals are.
Adding a skill is always a good thing, but VB6? Don't know (yeah right, shoot me while i'm talking!)
Unless you get a hellova pay, Coke Machine, office you can smoke in, a hot PA, and all that! I'll code Assembler in Notepad if I can just get to work in a darn office!!!

Nothing wrong with coding ASM in notepad I'm learning ASM that way as we speak. I have neither a hot PA nor an office of my own .

[StrangerInBeijing]

Nothing wrong with coding ASM in notepad I'm learning ASM that way as we speak. I have neither a hot PA nor an office of my own .

ASM or MSIL? Just curios. Lately got this *thing* for coding low-level stuff (just playing with it). ASM worth it? What you gonna do with it?

Sorry aristoxenus..your thread.

[tr333]

you can develop C# on linux/mac using Mono, but since there is no IDE that compares to Visual Studio (yet), you might not want to do this.

[penagate]

Anyone would go nuts switching TO VB6. Not a good career move

[kaihirst]

Hi,

well boys adn girsl.

I aDO have a hot PA, do work in an office ( ANd Im the boss) and dont code in VB6. although do code in C# and VBScript so fire away!!!!!

wouldnt concern yourself with VB6 as the code is being outsourced. One of my junior programmiers still uses it and my senior windows API programmer still uses it andhes being ordered to switch to VB.NEt or a realted .NET language within the next 12 montsh prior to updating our ofice wall with his. MCSD.

so VB.NEt, C#. j# (err did I say that??)

however, you did mention C++ ( stil actively been used so why is the office not interested in furthering their own development field scope by usign your current talents, but hey , thats politics for ya...) so why not use that?

ta

kai

[StrangerInBeijing]

however, you did mention C++ ( stil actively been used so why is the office not interested in furthering their own development field scope by usign your current talents, but hey , thats politics for ya...) so why not use that?

...Because the job he's considering is using vb6...read back

[aristoxenus]

Haha... i expected a stronger showing of support for VB, this being vbforums.com...... but it sounds like some of your opinions would be different if i could convince them to let me use VB.NET.

I'll see what i can do about the PA. And it's funny the thread strayed to ASM since one thing i've been pretty impressed with in the MS-language coder culture is the general willingness to jump into ASM... but maybe that's just a response to VB being slow?

Anyway. I appreciate the honest input. The job actually pays a bit less than the other jobs i was offered (one java and one PHP/mysql), its attraction being that it's a pretty interesting nonprofit project. I'm willing to give up the money, but not sure if i'm willing to code in vb6

(If i could use vim for my editor, that would alleviate the pain. It looks like the gVim plugin only works for Visual Studio... not Visual Basic! argh!!)

[aristoxenus]

oh, they don't want to use c++ because the senior programmer believes it's easier to find/hire VB coders. I don't know how true that is, but as you say, Kai, it is what it is.

[StrangerInBeijing]

The senior Programmer at my previous company was my best friend, mentor...damn, I looked up to that guy and learned a lot.
But his problem was his unwillingness to move to .Net, and seeing he is so good, influenced the OPs Manager, and I remember being shat on for studying .Net. And I paid the price, when I was retrenched and forced to look for a new job.

So without any intention to p!$$ on the guy that really taught me a lot, be carefull of people that cannot see the benefit of going to .Net.

[wossname]

ASM or MSIL? Just curios. Lately got this *thing* for coding low-level stuff (just playing with it). ASM worth it? What you gonna do with it?

Sorry aristoxenus..your thread.

Mainly ASM (using MASM615) with a view to doing a little MSIL later on if I can be bothered.

I wanted to learn more about the architecture of how computers work and the best way to do that is to learn ASM. I'm enjoying it immensely actually, its no where near as hard as people seem to think, its just a diferent way of thinking about programming thats all. By definition it is very simple.

I heartily recommend you read my replies here... it's the best computer book I have ever read on any programming subject...http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=365099

ASM is definitely worth it, at the very least you can honestly claim superiority over any non-ASM coder and it puts you in good stead with IT employers, proves you have an IQ larger than your belt size.

[aristoxenus]

The senior Programmer at my previous company was my best friend, mentor...damn, I looked up to that guy and learned a lot.
But his problem was his unwillingness to move to .Net, and seeing he is so good, influenced the OPs Manager, and I remember being shat on for studying .Net. And I paid the price, when I was retrenched and forced to look for a new job.

That's harsh! i hear people protesting the whole vb.net quite a bit, hadn't heard of young enterprising programmers getting fired for it yet.

It's drama (and carnage) like this that makes me wary of the whole microsoft platform. When are they going to decide vb.net isn't selling enough copies of visual studio or what have you, and cause another one of these ridiculous rifts?

I suppose you could make the same argument for a shop wanting to move from C++ say to java or something, but those community-rooted standards seem a little less volatile.

Anyway, done ranting. Gonna go geek out on the ASM thread now

[StrangerInBeijing]

i hear people protesting the whole vb.net quite a bit, hadn't heard of young enterprising programmers getting fired for it yet.

Not young. I did an "Introduction to PC's" Course when I was 25, 9 years ago! 2 years later I was A+, MCSE and MCSD. Did that while having a full time job keeping me busy about 60 hours a week at least!

I did not get fried for that. But I did 16 hour work days to "Make things work" as I switched careers. Company took full advantage of that, made sure I don't spend time on "something else" (.net) , never rewarded me for that, and cocky owner kicked me out "coincidently" after I demanded I get some reward for that. Begged me a month later to come back, I refused, and he ended up paying me per hour to come in after hours. Got him back by going, work, sleep when everyone is gone, and book like 6 hours a day after working max of 2 hours.

I still miss that company like hell though.