visual Basic versions and languages; which one?

[BelchFire]

I'm treading very lightly here, because I know I'm WAY out of my league. I'm a mechanically inclined person who had some programing classes in college. Specifically, Basic and Fortran, and I dibbled with the programming capabilities of my HP-41 and 48; enough to pique my interest in programming, and learn that I enjoy it. A few years out of college (when I finally had some money) I bought VB 3.0 personal edition. I've played with it some over the years and it still runs fine on my XP machines.

I'm considering trying to re-learn everything I've forgotten and before I do, I was wondering if I should upgrade. I found V6.0 for sale in the mid $200's and noticed VB.net. Whattheheckisthat?

How does VB.net compare to the Visual Basic that I've used before? What advantages would V6.0 give me for $200 plus? (in answering, remember that my programming is for fun, not professional; nor am I astute with it).

Where does Visual Studio fit into any of this? Is it a consideration for me, or is it a totally different animal?

I've been out of it so long until I'm almost embarrassed to ask these questions, so please go easy on me.

Thanks!
BelchFire

[si_the_geek]

Welcome to VBForums

VB 6 was released back in 1998, and is now out of support. While programs written in VB6 generally work in Windows 7, there is absolutely no guarantee that they will work at all in the next version of Windows. Programs written in VB 3 are unlikely to work at all on Windows Vista and later (especially the 64 bit versions), but I haven't checked.

VB.Net is the versions of VB since 2002, and they are a bit different to VB 6, but are still recognisable... they have lots more features (saving you lots of coding for "modern" things, like systray icons, .png images, and much more), but at the price of needing a fairly big installation for the .Net framework.

Visual Studio is a suite of languages including VB and C++ etc, and is the only way you can get the high-end modern versions of VB. However, you can get the latest version of VB (and other .Net languages) for free from www.microsoft.com/Express , and the generous limitations they have should be more than fine for you.


In terms of how "What advantages would V6.0 give me for $200 plus?", if you take account of the free Express editions, it will make you put in more work to do the same things, and will be prone to bugs in the future which are outside of your control... neither of which are really advantages!

As you would be moving from VB 3 you will have significant differences whichever version you go for (I remember going from 3 to 5/6 was a very big deal), so you may as well try out VB 2010, which will cost you nothing.

[IanS]

Visual Studio is "bundle" of programming languages. Basically a common IDE allowing you to develop using a number of different languages (VB, C++, C# etc)

If you're going to "Start" learning then you ought to get in to .net - don't spend money on VB6 when you get get vb.net for free. (All "Express" editions are free. You can download them from microsoft's website. You said you'll do it for fun - it's more fun when it's free

[dilettante]

Yes, Microsoft even has a beginner's .Net Basic.

[FireXtol]

If you're in it for fun... I don't see any reason to spend $200 on an antiquated programming language, unless you have some strong sense of nostalgia for VB.

Nor should you allow yourself to be lured to a 'free' version of a proprietary language. Isn't anyone aware of a bait and switch(just wait for it!) when they see one?
VB.NET is basically C# with VB-style syntax(major 'technical differences', like pointers, can be counted on one's hands, so I'm told). You won't be 're-learning' so much as learning fresh.

However....

Python is a very popular language with loads of community support. It's doubly free as in beer and free as in speech, and is quite versatile due to its openness(there's even some .NET support...).

Linux is the present and the future. My cell phone runs on it, my router runs on it(BusyBox), even my MP3 player(RockBox) runs on Linux! Super computers, to web servers, to PCs no bigger than a deck of cards.

Think about it. You could either learn the software/OS to millions of devices, desktops, and servers: Linux. Or you could learn about one that's proprietary, inevitable subject to forced obsolescence, upgrade fees, security exploits(mostly highly targeted: Windows), DRM, hardware-lockin, technically questionable version-restricted technologies(more forced obsolescence), and it goes on. Sounds like torture if you ask me.

Besides, what's more fun than learning something completely new, and with so many possible applications?

[BelchFire]

Or you could learn about one that's proprietary, inevitable subject to forced obsolescence, upgrade fees, security exploits(mostly highly targeted: Windows), DRM, hardware-lockin, technically questionable version-restricted technologies(more forced obsolescence), and it goes on. Sounds like torture if you ask me.

This already has me concerned. My VB3.0 still runs on XP, so I can play as long as I want. I D/L'd the free version today and see that it has to be registered. Are they gonna approve my registration 17 years from now when I want to fire it up again and play some more. Me thinks not.

However, given my choices, I'm going to go with it for now. I found a VB 2008 self-help kind of book in B&N tonight. Is that compatible with the current version of VB.NET?

[si_the_geek]

Yes it is comparable, there isn't too much different between the 2008 and 2010 versions (which are effectively the 4th and 5th versions of VB.Net).

While a book for the previous version isn't ideal, I suspect the cost saving will be significant.

[DeanMc]

It doesn't really matter what you choose as long as it is still being supported (VB 6 is a bad idea ). Python is good although I wouldn't worry too much about MS doing a switch and bait. The express editions of VS are here to stay and even if not there is nothing stopping you using other free tools with a stand alone compiler.

[Shaggy Hiker]

Nor should you allow yourself to be lured to a 'free' version of a proprietary language. Isn't anyone aware of a bait and switch(just wait for it!) when they see one?

There isn't a switch, it's just bait. It is entirely to MSs advantage to get loads of developers writing .NET programs for Windows (primarily). Giving away the development tools is an obvious move to support other products. Therefore: All bait, no switch.

VB.NET is basically C# with VB-style syntax

C# is basically VB with a C-style syntax. VB has been around for years, C# was created for .NET so that C++ coders would find a familiar language in the family.

Linux is the present and the future.

Linux is the future....and always will be.

Think about it. You could either learn the software/OS to millions of devices, desktops, and servers: Linux.

Or you can learn the software/OS that is run on the other 90% of computers.

Linux has its place, but that place is currently a VERY distant second. It may be growing, or holding, depending on how you work the numbers, but it is still, very much, a minority position, and will remain that way for a long time. A person should choose to focus on what will provide them the most advantage, which is currently Windows. That may change sometime in the next ten years, but then again, everything in this industry will be totally different in that time frame.

[BelchFire]

Thanks guys; I appreciate all of your candid input. I DL'd VB 2010 and ordered a handbook from Books A Million, so we'll see how it goes for free at first. In the mean time, I've been refamiliarizing myself with VB 3.0 since is still runs on my XP machines.

Man! I'm overwhelmed by how much I have forgotten. (or never really learned in the first place) Is there a place here for utterly simple (stupid, childish, beginner-whiner) questions?

FireXtol; I detest Micro$oft, but there's no denying they're top dog, so I have to play by their rules. If I were a smarter person, I'd love to give Linux a swing around the dance floor, but alas, I'm not in the same class with you guys.

Thanks again for the input; I really do appreciate it.

[si_the_geek]

There isn't much around for VB3, since it was out of date before the internet became popular... we do have a "VB6 and earlier" section for you to ask questions (some people there still remember or even use VB3), and our Classic VB FAQs (in the FAQ forum) which might be useful (but as they are aimed at VB6, there may be some differences).

We have a VB.Net forum for the modern versions of VB, so feel free to ask questions there - no matter if they seem simple or not.