Visual Basic

Rareed4-Aug-07 10:18

Rareed

4-Aug-07 10:18

It really depends on what you want to do. For web programming, PHP, ruby, or asp.net would probably be good choices.

For desktop programming, C++ would definitely be the way to go, although java might also work well for you.

Also, at some point I'd really recommend spending some time with C and assembly. They aren't necessarily the best introductory languages (although the first programming class I ever took started from assembly and then went to C), but a good grasp of the low level workings of the computer will help you out.

Benjamin Dodd4-Aug-07 10:22

4-Aug-07 10:22

ooo thanks i have experince with C++, i will use C# i think as i have had it reconmended to me.

Rareed wrote:
For desktop programming

this i what i want to do desktop programming, i will use C# i think

Thanks

Benjamin Dodd

The ANZAC4-Aug-07 12:52

The ANZAC

4-Aug-07 12:52

c# is a good middle ground for you, although, c# and vb.net are virtually identical in power. There is a stigma that C# is better because it used to better the better of the two, now microsoft has basically built C# and VB.net from the same stuff and used different syntax. If you prefer the sentence like interaction of VB.net syntax, i'd go for that. But if you like the C# style then i'd go for that.

Please check out my articles:
The ANZAC's articles

Colin Angus Mackay4-Aug-07 12:58

Colin Angus Mackay

4-Aug-07 12:58

Rareed wrote:
For desktop programming, C++ would definitely be the way to go

I would tend to disagree. C# is an excellent language for developing desktop applications. I would suggest that more desktop applications are written in C# than C++ nowadays. Sure, the big old applications like Word and Excel are likely written in C++ or C, but modern business applications aren't.

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Christian Graus4-Aug-07 13:28

Christian Graus

4-Aug-07 13:28

Agreed

Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++

"I am working on a project that will convert a FORTRAN code to corresponding C++ code.I am not aware of FORTRAN syntax" ( spotted in the C++/CLI forum )

Mohammed Hameed5-Aug-07 9:52

Mohammed Hameed

5-Aug-07 9:52

The easiest solution is that learn FORTRAN as quick as possible. Thats all I can say you at this time. Laugh | :laugh:

Be a good professional who shares programming secrets with others.

Colin Angus Mackay4-Aug-07 12:55

Colin Angus Mackay

4-Aug-07 12:55

Benjamin Dodd wrote:
at the moment i am learing VB 6 however was recently told this isnt the best language to use.

It is a dead language. It was superceded in 2002 by VB.NET

Benjamin Dodd wrote:
I am familier with the bascis of C++, should i contiue to learn C++?

It is a useful language to have.

What really matters is what you want to do with it. However, a good grounding in any modern language will provide you with a transferrable skill set.

Kevin McFarlane5-Aug-07 9:48

Kevin McFarlane

5-Aug-07 9:48

Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
a good grounding in any modern language will provide you with a transferrable skill set.

If only recruiters saw it that way. Cry | :((

Kevin

Christian Graus4-Aug-07 13:29

Christian Graus

4-Aug-07 13:29

VB6 is a waste of time. VB.NET is fine, but C# is also good. The bottom line is, there is no such thing as knowing too many languages. The only reason VB6 is a waste is that it's a dead language. I'd learn C#, because of the C++ background, and because going to VB.NET is easy, if you need to, when you know C#. But, keep using C++, there's no law against using more than one, it's not like marriage.

Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++

"I am working on a project that will convert a FORTRAN code to corresponding C++ code.I am not aware of FORTRAN syntax" ( spotted in the C++/CLI forum )

Benjamin Dodd4-Aug-07 21:55

4-Aug-07 21:55

Christian Graus wrote:
there's no law against using more than one, it's not like marriage.

haha

Ok Thanks for the advice, i will begin to learn C# from today onwards Smile | :)

, i will also continue with C++.

Thanks for the advice

Benjamin Dodd

Versions of Visual Basics -

Mbire5-Aug-07 21:50

Mbire

5-Aug-07 21:50

I am assuming that you will be moving to the .Net platform sooner or latter. If thats the case then go for the language you feel good and strong about personally. Under the .Net platform, all languages have exactly equal capabilities (at least according to some Microsoft learning aids) and you can do the same task in almost the same number of lines and using the exact same classes and data types. Knowing more languages wont do you harm though, given that due to cross language programming now taking place, you might have to use and debug components written in another language.

However C# is more universally used: by Microsoft and major players.

Benjamin Dodd4-Aug-07 8:12

4-Aug-07 8:12

What version of VB is everyone using, i use VB 6. What are peoples views on this?

Benjamin Dodd

Paul Conrad4-Aug-07 8:40

4-Aug-07 8:40

Benjamin Dodd wrote:
i use VB 6

It's pretty much dead language, now days.

Benjamin Dodd wrote:
What version of VB

VB.NET if there is really ever a need for it...

"Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon

[Message Deleted]

Benjamin Dodd4-Aug-07 8:45

4-Aug-07 8:45

[Message Deleted]

Benjamin Dodd4-Aug-07 8:45

4-Aug-07 8:45

ok, and nice quote. I use VB 6 because i am a beginner and find it easy, once i get better at coding i will use C++ or soming along those lines. What language are you best with?

Benjamin Dodd

Paul Conrad4-Aug-07 8:52

4-Aug-07 8:52

Benjamin Dodd wrote:
I use VB 6 because i am a beginner and find it easy

Just go to VB.NET. VB6 is no longer supported.

Benjamin Dodd wrote:
What language are you best with?

C++/C#/Java/PHP/Perl/Fortran/VB.NET/Assembly (80x86, 6502), just to name a few Poke tongue | ;-P

Take note of my other sig at the bottom Big Grin | :-D

"Any sort of work in VB6 is bound to provide several WTF moments." - Christian Graus

Benjamin Dodd4-Aug-07 9:14

4-Aug-07 9:14

haha

i jus bought the VB 6 book, Frown | :(

and that comment is not funny haha, you are a Genius hehe, you know lots of languages, im only 16, what do u suggest i use to program, i used C++ some time ago i have the books for that. Just found it a bit ahrd after a while.

Any suggestions

Benjamin Dodd

Paul Conrad4-Aug-07 9:20

4-Aug-07 9:20

Benjamin Dodd wrote:
you know lots of languages

Awww, shucks Smile | :)

I started programming when I was 9 and that was almost 26 years ago.

Since you just got a VB6 book, carry on. I'd get the fundamentals down, and move on to C++/C#.

Benjamin Dodd wrote:
ust found it a bit ahrd after a while

What is so hard about C++? Object Oriented Programming? MFC?

"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese" - anonymous, found in Uncle John's Bathroom Reader

Benjamin Dodd4-Aug-07 9:25

4-Aug-07 9:25

ok, wow you started at 9, thats real early Smile | :)

i started at 15, and i was doind ok with c++ just wasn`t understanding the codes very well and when i got to the secong chapter in my book, variables and strings i was confused however another read i may understand it more, because at this time i was taking my GCSEs so it wernt the best time to fill my head with new knoledge, i will read 'C++ in easy steps' a bit tomorro, maybe i will get a better understanding of it. I will contiue with VB 6 however because i have the book hehe. What was the first language u got familier with?

Benjamin Dodd

Paul Conrad4-Aug-07 9:32

4-Aug-07 9:32

Here's the chronological order I went with:

First actual language I became familiar with was the built in Basic that came with the Commodore 64/128 systems.
From there, I went on to learning assembly language for the 6502 chip which the C64/128 ran on.
After that, I upgraded to my first Intel based machine in 1991, a 386 running at 25mhz, and it was a significant leap from the C64/128.
Did a quick stint with Quick Basic 4.5/VB 1.0 (never really looked at VB again until VB.NET showed up), with some Microsoft Pascal.
Started at the local community college in 1992, learning Ada (at the time concurrently C++).
Java came around a while later, along with PHP.
Started with C# around 2002, or so, and that has been pretty much the language of choice, unless clients dictate otherwise.

"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese" - anonymous, found in Uncle John's Bathroom Reader

Benjamin Dodd4-Aug-07 9:37

4-Aug-07 9:37

ok wow thats alot, i have used BASIC before when i installed it in school haha, it was quite good however went swiftly on to VB 2005 express edition then i couldnt get the book for that version, so i switched to VB 6, and before BASIC me and a friends used to use C++ in school to make .exe files and just play around with C++ really, thanks for your help i will contiuse with VB 6 however at the same time i shall learn C++.

I hope i have more luck with C++ this time around haha
i'm sure doing a level math will help me with this

I want to learn at least 5 programming languages before i die hehe

This is including JAVA whith at the moment i know nothing about.

Benjamin Dodd

Paul Conrad4-Aug-07 9:43

4-Aug-07 9:43

Benjamin Dodd wrote:
I want to learn at least 5 programming languages before i die

Once you've got a few languages under your belt, then learning more is actually pretty easy once the the fundamentals are down pat Smile | :)

"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese" - anonymous, found in Uncle John's Bathroom Reader

Colin Angus Mackay4-Aug-07 13:14

Colin Angus Mackay

4-Aug-07 13:14

Benjamin Dodd wrote:
I want to learn at least 5 programming languages before i die

Given the way technology moves on you are most likely to achieve that before leaving university.

Apparently the upcoming languages of choice are functional languages like ML[^], which has actually been around since the 1970s. Microsoft Research are doing a lot of work with functional languages and they could becoming mainstream sometime in the next few years.