8 replies to this topic

[TomBowyer]

Hi,
I am familiar with vb.net, C++ and Java at a basic level (data types, subs, functions, loops, etc). I am undertaking more complex projects and wonder if I should advance to going object oriented rather than just static functions. Im starting to use multitasking and putting GUIs to my projects.

If I start object oriented programming would I be best placed to use VB.net, or change to C#/Java before I get to far down the line?

Thanks,
Tom.

[Alexander]

If you wish to employ easy to use GUIs and things such as multithreading to your application, a jump from VB.NET to C# will be your best option. C# has the similar concepts and is a great .NET alternative to Java-like languages. If you wish for your program to be available on different platforms Java may be a simpler option, there is ways mono that can be employed for C#.

[ewomack]

Your knowledge of VB.NET will easily transfer to C#, so that's a good way to go. I'm guessing that you're already using Visual Studio, which takes care of a lot of GUI programming.

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

If VB was your first programming language, then you're pretty much screwed for life. Sorry.

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

Oh, yeah, and use the Mono framework, not .NET, if you're going to do C#. Mono works on all operating systems, not just Windows, and you can get the full version of its IDE (MonoDevelop) for free.

Main Page - Mono

Sorry if I sound pushy. I'm just another Unix geek who is sick of people using .NET and writing all their applications so they only run on Windows.

[Alexander]

DarkLordofthePenguins said:

If VB was your first programming language, then you're pretty much screwed for life. Sorry.

State it is your opinion next time, insulting somebody else on false pretexts that they cannot learn a subject properly due to something like that is nonsense, you have been warned.

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

Nullw0rm said:

State it is your opinion next time, insulting somebody else on false pretexts that they cannot learn a subject properly due to something like that is nonsense, you have been warned.

I don't see how what I said was insulting. I was simply saying it because Visual Basic teaches bad programming practices and doesn't prepare someone for real application development, so if you start out with it and become accustomed to programming by its rules, then it screws you up for life.

[so1i]

It's insulting, and also (imho) a fairly ignorant thing to say. At the end of the day, they are all just tools. And whether one tool only works on windows or not, there is a reason people use them, and this isn't just because Microsoft tell them to. We all know the average user out there almost always is using Windows, so why is using a tool where that is made slightly easier a bad thing?

Also, I started out with VB (most colleges here do start you out with VB), and in my opinion it was the right choice. I'm now Studying a degree in CS with Java, and coping just fine. VB may teach "bad programming practices", but it also teaches fundamental programming ideas in a really understandable way.

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

Java is a crappy language that relies on gadgets and gizmos, just like C# and VB. I've programmed in Java, and I hated it. I prefer a more elegant language like C/C++.