[RESOLVED] My New Hobby

[kareemanime]

Dear Sir
I am an anesthesiologist. When I was young I studied programming in school, I studied BASIC then I studied Visual Basic 4 or 5 (I enjoyed very much).

But I stopped 8 years ago because the study of medicine is time consuming.

Now I decided to return to programming again as a new hobby. I began reading about Visual Basic .net which is slightly different from the old Visual Basic but I think more powerful.

I also read about C#, I found it little difficult with all its brackets. But I always read that C & C++ are THE LANGUAGES of real programming.

I also read about Python and its rising star, I enjoyed its syntax but I found it little difficult when creating GUI.

My question is:
What language is the best for me? I won't do games nor data bases simply some applications that helps me calculating some drug doses.
I just want to enjoy watching applications that I create.

Thank you All

[JugglingReferee]

VB.NET would likely be easiest for you. There are Express (free) editions for you to use.

You should also check into the EULA for VB Express Edition as well.

[Campion]

I wouldn't worry too much about "real programming" when it comes to .NET. No matter what language you use to build something, it will all boil down to the same thing once you compile it.

VB.NET is not very much different from classic VB in how the syntax works, but what has changed is that VB is now OOP (object-oriented programming) compliant, and also has the advantage of the .NET framework. Many things will be new, some things will be as if you have never left VB 4/5, and there are also new ways to do old things.

[Atheist]

C or C++ is also a good option considering the nature of the applications you wish to create.
Since you just want to create some applications that calculate drug doses, you wouldnt necessarily need a fancy GUI, just a simple console application.
As long as you don't need to create user interfaces, I'd go with C or C++, because I personally actually enjoy writing in those two languages.. It can be as simple as you need or as advanced as you need.
Though if you need the user interface, go with VB.NET. Creating good user interfaces in C or C++ can be a pain.

Edit: Welcome to VBForums by the way.

[Hack]

Moved To General Developer

[FunkyDexter]

I disagree with Atheist about using C. He is correct in what he's saying, it would be an ideal language for the sort of apps you're describing. Rather I'd disagree because you've said you didn't like the brackets on C#. These came from C so if you don't like C# syntax you're going to hate C syntax.

If you're apps are console based and simple in nature then a scripting language like Python is ideal. It tends to struggle as app sget more complicated though so if you weant to do somethnig a bit more complex VB.Net is probably the way to go.

[kareemanime]

Thank you all. You really helped me. I downloaded the express edition of visual basic 2008 and I will start at once.
Again : Thank you very much for your answers.