[dba-VB] Which version of Visual Studio

Dan Waters df.waters at comcast.net
Mon Nov 14 08:27:58 CST 2011


I disagree on automatically taking the plunge on C#.

The two languages, vb.net and C# are now, with .Net 4 and Visual Studio
2010, almost identical, and MS will probably make them absolutely identical
in one of the next versions.  As a relative newcomer, you won't see the
differences for a while.  So, because there is no intrinsic advantage for
either language, it's just your personal preference.  In addition, I've
found that the more I write in VB, the easier it is to read something in C#
and understand what's happening (converting code and comparing line for line
helps with this as well).

Also, I've been programming in VB.Net for about 6 months, and have never not
been able to find examples using VB.Net.  In fact, I'd say that about 40%
are in VB.Net, and the rest in C#.  If you find an interesting example in
C#, you can usually convert it here: http://converter.telerik.com/.
Sometimes I will suffix my searches with '-C#' so that only VB.Net examples
come up, and I can more quickly get what I'm looking for.

Of course, if you are going to be programming within a group of C#
developers, then you need to learn the language.  If you're going to be
programming on your own, which it sounds like you're doing, then I'd say
skip the 'tiny brain exploding transition' and start with VB.Net.  That's
plenty of a learning curve just with the transition to any .Net language.

I do prefer VB for at least one reason: VB is not case sensitive while C#
is.  For example, the variable 'stgPerson' in VB is the same as when you
type 'stgperson'; VB will change the case for you.  But C# sees 'stgPerson'
and 'stgperson' as two separate variables, and I don't see how that would be
helpful.  

Many C# developers will often say that 'C# rules the world' and so on.  Not
true.  I think it's the same attitude that IT people have for Access.  They
want to be 'superior' and do the 'true' language.  The truth is it's not
that simple.

You might want to write a small app in both languages, and see which one
works for you.

It's been a while, but I believe that there are separate VS 2010 Express
downloads for each of the different languages.

Good Luck!
Dan



-----Original Message-----
From: dba-vb-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-vb-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Doug Steele
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 10:00 PM
To: Discussion concerning Visual Basic and related programming issues.
Subject: Re: [dba-VB] Which version of Visual Studio

Apart from anything else, I think you should just take the plunge and start
using C#.  It appears to be the language of choice for .Net developers.
 Whenever you search for for .Net programming advice on the web, 99% of the
explanations and examples will be in C#.

The transition from VB to C# will be, from my experience at least, a tiny
part of the brain exploding transition from Access/VBA to .Net.

And if you're thinking of making web apps, my advice would be to start right
in using MVC3.  I built a couple of apps for clients using ASP.Net Webforms,
and I found the whole system to be really difficult to work with.
 I thought it was just my advanced years and calcified brain, but I've
started working with MVC and it is, to my mind, much more straightforward.

Doug

On Sun, Nov 13, 2011 at 6:00 PM, newsgrps <newsgrps at dalyn.co.nz> wrote:

> Ok - Here goes for my first post to this group.
>
> I currently have Visual Studio 2005 Professional installed which I 
> have done some playing around on.  I know this is getting a little old 
> (like me).  I am wanting to get more familiar with dot net and 
> application development.
>
> Should I continue to use this to get more familiar with the dot net 
> environment or should I get a later version (if so which one?).  What 
> are the advantages/disadvantages of each approach (apart from cost 
> which is a big disincentive).  The Express Visual Studio 2010 products 
> don't seem to have enough features (for example the one dot net web 
> application I do support is in vb.net but VS 2010 Express 
> documentation doesn't seem to indicate that vb.net is included).
>
> Regards
>
> David Emerson
> Dalyn Software Ltd
> Wellington, New Zealand
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