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Survey Results

Why are people derisive towards Visual Basic?   [Edit]

Survey period: 19 Jan 2004 to 25 Jan 2004

VB has received a lot of flak over the years. Why? (Sent in by FruitBatInShades)

OptionVotes% 
Because it's horrible39726.97
Because they have never used it16611.28
Because people are programming snobs36124.52
Because they need to grow up1177.95
Because it's not a real programming language!43129.28



 
GeneralRe: oh dear lord here we go again... Pin
Signal-923-Jan-04 5:58
Signal-923-Jan-04 5:58 
GeneralRe: oh dear lord here we go again... Pin
Ellery_Familia25-Jan-04 17:28
Ellery_Familia25-Jan-04 17:28 
GeneralRe: oh dear lord here we go again... Pin
Signal-926-Jan-04 7:52
Signal-926-Jan-04 7:52 
GeneralRe: oh dear lord here we go again... Pin
Ellery_Familia26-Jan-04 11:05
Ellery_Familia26-Jan-04 11:05 
GeneralRe: oh dear lord here we go again... Pin
p05esto23-Jan-04 9:14
p05esto23-Jan-04 9:14 
GeneralRe: oh dear lord here we go again... Pin
ajita25-Jan-04 5:46
ajita25-Jan-04 5:46 
GeneralRe: oh dear lord here we go again... Pin
Simon Blundell25-Jan-04 13:30
Simon Blundell25-Jan-04 13:30 
GeneralThe last(?) word on VB vs. C Pin
Simon Blundell25-Jan-04 13:31
Simon Blundell25-Jan-04 13:31 
Do we carry on with this childish language argument because the Mac-Win conflict jury is now IN? (Bill won?).

I've programmed EVERY non-GL4 language under the sun since 1975...

This is my Usage Guide:
* C if you can't maintain your own good asm library; or for porting to ANY OS and ANY hardware.
* C++ if you want to be able to use 3rd party libraries (proprietry or MFC etc); or delve into FAST graphics (even though GDI implementation is awkward); or want to drop real geek vocab at a dinner party.
* C# if you haven't yet learnt a language (it's a combo of the best of VB and C)
* VB (native, A or Script) for FAST and FLEXIBLE front end development; or server side ASP scripts; or MS-Office enhancements.
* Perl if your web-site is linux hosted
* Assembly if you also designed the hardware
* Pascal, Fortran, Assembly if you're a history student
* Javascript for web work if you've only ever used C syntaxed languages

Some of these messages have alluded to: "Pick any language as long as it's the best/most suitable for the job", leave snobbery aside and simply use the best language for the job. A truely objective programmer can do this.

I've just completed a multi-faceted project (for onboard navigation and systems control - free copy at www.digiboat.com.au) which included QuickBASIC (can you believe it! by-the-way QB runs like effen lightning on modern machines) on a DOS motherboard interfacing hardware node combining proprietry serial, parallel and network protocols; 8086 and Z80 Assembly routines for some of the low level hardware interfacing (driving my own hardware components); C++ (with MFC) for the main Navigation and Chart display program; VB6 for additional interfacing with GPS's and database interfacing; and VBScript (and occasionally Java) for the ASP pages on the supporting website.

The moral - worth repeating - "use the best language for the job".

Now all we do is define "Best". This is subjective - based on...
"What language(s) do I know?"
"Can I 'see' a solution with my known language(s)?"
"Is this solution easy to develop and will it be a complete answer?"
"Do I own the development tools?" (Everyone "owns" VBA, VBScript and Java*)

Notice that there should be no emotion used to answer these "subjective" questions. Let all developers concentrate on providing complete, on-time, good UIs, minimised coding and error free solutions.

For over 20 years, we have ALL been cheap beta testers for (mostly) Microsoft's products. We are still testing their products, and it appears as if no cornucopiea (programming language) yet exists - otherwise why was C# recently "invented". Somewhere off in the future there MAY be a single programming language that serves all needs, but if this be true, then surely there will also be a single computer App that serves all needs (graphic'ing, word processing, spreadsheeting, video editing, communicating). This sounds unlikely (but perhaps isn't).

I defy any self confessed "real" or "purist" programmer to solve any and every task with a single language, and be convinced that it's been done in the "best" manner.

Actually "purists" surely would have to code in assembly (or maybe even machine code). Uh, oh ... Full-Circle Syndrome ... I started life programming in machine code in 1975 on an IBM computer adding machine (with punch cards).

Sorry, I've either confused more coders than I've enlightened, or vice-versa. If neither, then the CodeProject website is probably not what you were surfing for.


Cheers, Simon.
---
Remember free software contains no bugs - only undocumented features.

GeneralSome peeps need to grow up Pin
Poolbeer22-Jan-04 6:45
Poolbeer22-Jan-04 6:45 
GeneralRe: Some peeps need to grow up Pin
FruitBatInShades22-Jan-04 9:18
FruitBatInShades22-Jan-04 9:18 
GeneralRe: Some peeps need to grow up Pin
Jeremy Falcon23-Jan-04 17:16
professionalJeremy Falcon23-Jan-04 17:16 
GeneralHey! I want him on my team! Pin
Fortner24-Jan-04 3:27
Fortner24-Jan-04 3:27 
GeneralRe: Hey! I want him on my team! Pin
Jeremy Falcon24-Jan-04 4:24
professionalJeremy Falcon24-Jan-04 4:24 
GeneralThe god-complexed programmer... Pin
Fortner24-Jan-04 10:59
Fortner24-Jan-04 10:59 
GeneralBecause it has no built-in CListCtrl. Pin
Uwe Keim22-Jan-04 4:08
sitebuilderUwe Keim22-Jan-04 4:08 
GeneralThe exact answer is: it lacks elegance. Pin
Emilio CL22-Jan-04 0:55
Emilio CL22-Jan-04 0:55 
GeneralBe easy on me... I am molting. Pin
Fortner21-Jan-04 22:37
Fortner21-Jan-04 22:37 
GeneralRe: Be easy on me... I am molting. Pin
FruitBatInShades22-Jan-04 9:21
FruitBatInShades22-Jan-04 9:21 
GeneralActiveX Control Sizing Pin
clawton21-Jan-04 13:37
clawton21-Jan-04 13:37 
GeneralThink VB is to an extent jinxed by its past Pin
Hermit Dave21-Jan-04 12:38
professionalHermit Dave21-Jan-04 12:38 
GeneralI would have liked to vote for more than one answer... Pin
John M. Drescher21-Jan-04 5:55
John M. Drescher21-Jan-04 5:55 
GeneralRe: I would have liked to vote for more than one answer... Pin
Hermit Dave21-Jan-04 12:42
professionalHermit Dave21-Jan-04 12:42 
GeneralRe: I would have liked to vote for more than one answer... Pin
John M. Drescher21-Jan-04 12:49
John M. Drescher21-Jan-04 12:49 
GeneralRe: I would have liked to vote for more than one answer... Pin
Hermit Dave21-Jan-04 13:12
professionalHermit Dave21-Jan-04 13:12 
GeneralRe: I would have liked to vote for more than one answer... Pin
p05esto23-Jan-04 9:17
p05esto23-Jan-04 9:17 

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