hey
i was wondering if any one could point me in a good direction
i wana learn a programing lanuage but i duno which to choose
ive spent years using qbasic(which i still tink is a great lanauge for writing small programs quickly) but i wana move onto sumtin move powerful and capable of writing windows applicaion
i just wana no which lanuage is the most versatile and most commonly used
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I used Quick Basic and QBX for many years (80's and 90's) and switched to VB in 1995.
I would say to switch to VB6.
The biggest hurdle I had was changing my thinking from sequential code to event driven code.
Once you do this I think you'll enjoy VB very much.
When you have a good handle on VB6 the next thing to look at is VB.net.
But using VB6 should allow the transition to be easier.
good luck,
Bryan
Okay, let me collide head on with fellow experts here, but I'd not suggest you to take up VB.Net for the simple reason that it is gonna make it easy for you. My reasons are following:
(1) By learning VB.Net, you would tend to relate it with QBasic all the time. You will not be able to break out of QBasic mindset. No offence meant to anyone, QBasic is meant for kiddos.
(2) VB.Net isn't as great is demand as other contemporaty languages such as Java and C++. From career stand point, I recommend (a) Java, (b) C++, (c) C (d) Any other.
(3) .Net programmers are not as highly paid as Java/C++/C programmers. Not even half of it.
(4) .Net binds you to MS OSs. Not a great future ahead, say 10 years down the line.
Why I recommend Java?
(1) It will free you from QBasic is a programming language mindset.
(2) It will change (will force you to, if learn it religiously) the way you think, the way you code, the way you design applications.
(3) It is a highly capable language, made up of good elements takes from dozen odd successful 3rd generation/4th generation languages
(4) Is a good career option
the problem with VB 6 is three-fold - 1) since it is now OBSOLETE, it may be tricky finding a copy of the software, 2) also since it is OBSOLETE, it may be difficult to obtain books about how to use the software, and most important, 3) since it is now out-dated, why learn something that will be of almost no use, and you will have learned the wrong way to do things, if and when you DO subsequently decide to move up to VB.NET.
AW
hmmm
i tink java mite be a good choice
i do love qbasic its such a great little langauge but the limitaions make it also useless now
how easy it in these lanuges to use tink like printers ports and tings like dat
i like buildin computer controlled tings cos im studying mechatronic engineering and with qbasic it was so easy to switch on and off pins on printer ports
Well said, Ranjeet...
There are enough differences between VB6 and VB.Net (and bad ideas and inconsistencies in VB6) that I would consider learning VB6 as a precursor to VB.Net to be more detrimental than helpful.
I'd like to also recommend C# for consideration. Although it is a .Net language, and therefore Microsoft centric, it can be used via Mono on Linux (maybe Unix, too). It is very "Java" like and, in my opinion, easier to learn than either Java or C++.
Both C# and Java are in higher demand than VB.Net or VB6 these days and they both command higher salaries in the marketplace.
I'd also suggest not limiting yourself to just one of the choices. Concentrate on using one and then, when you feel comfortable with it, learn another. This way, you can hedge your bets.
===
Lynn
Business Accounts
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by: Arthur_WoodPosted on 2005-01-31 at 09:04:18ID: 13184344
sicne you are familiar with QBasic already, then you might want to consider VB.NET - the biggest challenge for you will be to learn and understand the concepts of Object Oriented Programming, which are quite different from the Procedural Concepts which formed the foundation of a typical QBasic program.
AW