C# vs. VB.NET [Serious]

[iPrank]

If you have almost same expertise in both C++ and VB, which .NET language will you prefer to learn next ? C# or VB.NET ?

[wossname]

C#. Mainly because its closer to C++ than it is VB. VB.net hasn't got pointers.

C# is better.

[iPrank]

Don't you think C# has a 'higher'(?) learning curve than VB.NET ?
That is what people say everytime.

Personally I prefer C type languages. IMO, they are harder to develop, but easier to maintain. What do you think ?

I never liked VB's event-driven object-based model. It hides so many thing from the developer. Is this same in 'advanced' VB.NET ? Does C# lets you handle low-level aspects of framework/OS ? AFAIK, only C++.NET supports unmanaged code ?

[NoteMe]

C# for sure...Screw VB.NET. VB.NET is for silly hobby progammers that can't even put their shirt on the right way...


- ØØ -

[~teh_pwn3rz~]

Don't you think C# has a 'higher'(?) learning curve than VB.NET ?
That is what people say everytime.

Personally I prefer C type languages. IMO, they are harder to develop, but easier to maintain. What do you think ?

I never liked VB's event-driven object-based model. It hides so many thing from the developer. Is this same in 'advanced' VB.NET ? Does C# lets you handle low-level aspects of framework/OS ? AFAIK, only C++.NET supports unmanaged code ?

For anyone that knows C++ then the C# learning curve will be no problem. The problem (and I have stated this on many occasions before) comes from VB6. If you try to go from Vb6 to VB.net then you will find it very uncomfortable. However if you go straight from VB6 to C# you will find it a lot easier even though there are many similarities in the technologies used.

Vb6 is too similar in syntax to VB.net and thus you will either get badly confused or you'll forget VB6 altogether. Moving from VB6 to VB.net is career suicide.

[wossname]

For anyone that knows C++ then the C# learning curve will be no problem. The problem (and I have stated this on many occasions before) comes from VB6. If you try to go from Vb6 to VB.net then you will find it very uncomfortable. However if you go straight from VB6 to C# you will find it a lot easier even though there are many similarities in the technologies used.

Vb6 is too similar in syntax to VB.net and thus you will either get badly confused or you'll forget VB6 altogether. Moving from VB6 to VB.net is career suicide.

I agree with him completely.

[NoteMe]

Now go over to the D# shrine and kiss it...

[iPrank]

Thanks !
I have another 2 questions,

1 What type of book do you think will be better for me ? A beginner level (like Beginning C# - Wrox) or an advanced level (like Professional C# - Wrox)

My friend has 2 C# books that he'll let me borrow, 1) Professional C# (2003 version) - Wrox Press and 2)C# 2005 Step by step - Microsoft Press

2. If answer of Q1 is 'Advanced', Do you think it is a good idea to read the older book (and find new features from web) ? Or should I buy a new v2.0 book ? Any suggesation ?

Thanks.

[NoteMe]

Here read these tutorials. Should take you 10min Then you know all about the syntax you need.

http://www.csharp-station.com/Tutorial.aspx


Then you can buy an advanced book, but then again, what is advanced?


- ØØ -

[NoteMe]

Ohhh...and NO, don't go for .NET one books...thats just silly.. Why don't you start with VB1 at the same time..

- ØØ -

[wossname]

Always buy a book that is at least 1 level above your current competence. Otherwise you are wasting your money. Buy a new book, not an old one, that was you won't have to waste your life looking for 10000000 little details.

[iPrank]

but then again, what is advanced?

Points noted.

By 'advanced' I meant a book that doesn't deal with basics of syntax, branching, looping etc. I need a book that starts with the basics of framework (not basics of programming). A book where the author assumes the reader is familier with programming but wants to upgrade his skill for .NET.

Thanks for the tutorial. Something just like that I needed for a quick start.

Any recommendation for 'advanced' book?

[NoteMe]

Points noted.

Any recommendation for 'advanced' book?

I don't think you got my point when I said: "But then again, what is advanced". If I gave you a link to Advanced shader programming in MDX, then that would be advanced for me, but freaken impossible for you, since you would probably not even know how to initialize a D3D object.

Then again, I don't know anyting about database programming in C#,so I could find you a ABC book on how to connect to databases. But you might know a whole lot about it, and would just laugh at it.

So it is all about what level you are on for a particular part of programming, and what you are interested in and so on...when you go over to advanced books, there isn't a little bit of game programming, a littlea about databases, and a little bit about web services in the one and same book...


- ØØ

[iPrank]

Oh. Sorry.
Yes you are right. I should have written it more clearly,

Could you please recommend me a book that teaches the architecture (and coding rules) of .NET framework very well by using C# ?

Not any special part. Like 'Hardcore Visual Basic' is a very good book for VB

(I hope I'm more cleare this time)

... since you would probably not even know how to initialize a D3D object.

I know. Just double-click on the game's shortcut and it will initialize Direct 3D by magic.

[Merrion]

VB.net hasn't got pointers

Pointers are as detrimental to software engineering as the goto command was when Dijkstra first brought it up.

[iPrank]

Thanks guys for your kind help.

Do you have any suggesation for my previous question ? I really need your suggesations.

Also, when I tried to run csc in the command prompt, it gave me "bad command or filename" error.

I have VB 2005 Express installed. Do I need to download .NET SDK separetly for C# 2005 ? Or do I need to set some environmental variables ?

I also have .NET framework runtime 1.0 and 1.1 installed.

Edit:
The VB 2005 Express installer wrote the path in User Variables. SharpDevelop was able to compile a C# code without any problem. But from command line I wasn't able to run the compiler.

I added the path in System Variables and it working.

[penagate]

Pointers are as detrimental to software engineering as the goto command was when Dijkstra first brought it up.

[iPrank]

Found an introduction to C# (written for mainly C++ developers): Aisha Sarfraz's Introduction To C#

[dee-u]

I love C# but that does not necessarily mean I hate VB.Net...

[wossname]

Pointers are as detrimental to software engineering as the goto command was when Dijkstra first brought it up.

WHAT!?? Goto rules

Seriously though, I don't think there's anything wrong with pointers, if well documented. I only use them for optimising code for maximum speed.

I take it that you are not an ASM coder then? .