Hi,

VB is Good and is marketable NOW. With the introduction of VB.Net, VB will more or less be dead as the new language is totally different from VB. VB.net is truly an OO Language and you should take a look at it. There is a lot of hype right now (as usual with any new product) BUT I think the .Net platform WILL eventually take off. But dont worry, VB6 will still be in the marketplace for the next few years as the cycle of new software platforms usually take abt 3 years to filter into the market.

SQL is not really a software programming platform but a syntax that Most relational DB management apps uses to talk to each other. Access is an MS DB App that uses SQL (Jet) so does Oracle and MS SQL Server.

On a Personal note, the programming language world and platform is huge and ever-Fast Changing. There is no way anyone can keep in front of everything all the time. You will get burnt out fast. SPECIALIZE and FOCUS on one area...whether its Database Design, Web Development etc and you will be OK. Dont try to do too much or you will end up not knowing anything.

To answer Q2, there is alwasys demand for a second language altho I doubt that anyone can be so good and professional in 2 languages with 2 different syntaxes. Focus on 1 language, but have some technical know-hows in another. Dont master both. It is difficult and counter-productive.

From my personal experience, JAVA seems to have overtaken Visual C++ as the Preferred OO Language. But I think the new .net platform will change that and there will be C#. You could try JAVA but it is really difficult to learn 2 different languages with 2 totally different platforms...If you are believer in Msoft, stick with MSoft products and technologies. Concentrate with VB for now, wait for the hype of the new platform to blow over, then see what happens.

I hope this long msg helps