Considering VB

**AcidDrive** · 11-08-2008, 10:37 AM

Hey Everyone,

Basically, I'm currently learning/teaching myself Java and a bit of C/C++, and I was also considering learning Visual Basic. But I have a few questions.

1. For those that have used VB, how powerful is it?

2. What can be done with it that makes it worth knowing?

3. Will learning VB be helpful in learning other languages, in the sense that it teaches me other programming basics/fundamentals that other languages don't?

4. I am an intermediate programmer, although I tend to pick up things quickly, how long did it take you to "master" VB, compared to other languages you know?

Thanks to everyone that takes the time to answer these questions.

AcidDrive

**Xav** · 11-08-2008, 10:40 AM

1) Not powerful.
2) Nothing.
3) No.
4) Not long, but I soon grew out of it.

In other words - if you can learn C/C++, avoid VB.

**Aereshaa** · 11-08-2008, 04:32 PM

For any of those things (i.e new experiences, useful for other languages), try learning a web-based language like Javascript or PHP.

**AcidDrive** · 11-09-2008, 01:47 AM

I know JavaScript and PHP quite well already and have been using both for quite some time.

Thats basically answered my question...Thanks Aereshaa

**Xav** · 11-09-2008, 11:32 AM

You're welcome...

lol

**Donovan** · 11-11-2009, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by Xav

1) Not powerful.
2) Nothing.
3) No.
4) Not long, but I soon grew out of it.

In other words - if you can learn C/C++, avoid VB.

I beg to differ Xav. You can do a lot with VB if you know how to use the program. So, yes learning visual basic is helpful depending on what you are doing.

**so1i** · 11-11-2009, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Xav

1) Not powerful.
2) Nothing.
3) No.
4) Not long, but I soon grew out of it.

In other words - if you can learn C/C++, avoid VB.

I disagree too. There are many things good about VB, especially VB.NET.

VB is fairly simple to learn, and can provide a fast development, and powerful platform (definitely worth experience with the .NET environment).

Knowing VB first, has also (as it's more simple to learn) helped me in learning C++, introducing me to programming techniques and practices, along with the ease of using a very english based language. I, personally, would have found it much harder to begin to learn C++ if I had not had all the experience in VB I have had.