Is VB a good language to start programming?
- Thread starter auuuu
- Start date
Nookie Monster
Senior Member
- Mar 28, 2010
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I stared with QuickBasic back in the days of DOS. It's an easy programming language to learn. It makes an excellent stepping stone to other more powerful languages.
Like all programming languages it has it's strengths and weaknesses. Programming languages are not a one size fits all.
Like all programming languages it has it's strengths and weaknesses. Programming languages are not a one size fits all.
auuuu
Elite Member
- Jul 10, 2010
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jascoken
Senior Member
- Nov 1, 2010
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OK... Some ground rules:
1) If you're starting out with coding, don't think you'll be producing bots and all-singing/all-dancing software within a few weeks; it'll take time.
2) If you have NO coding/scripting experience at all, then you may be better starting with some web/scripting languages first
VB/Visual basic is an application development environment, and it can be very powerful. it is also highly-accessible to starters.
C/C+/C++/C# is a systems language and is a 'lower-level' language which is often not suited to absolute beginners. It is far more strict in terms of syntax and is much less forgiving. There is also a steeper learning curve. It's the most powerful of all languages though, and mastering it will prepare you for most other languages - so it needs to be goal at some point.
Many people like starting with Java, as it's platform-independent, but don't confuse this with Javascript!
Personally, I would strongly recommend starting with HTML/CSS/PHP - as PHP will teach you the basics of what can be achieved with a programming/scripting language. It will also introduce you to API's (Application Programming Interfaces) and Databases (MySQL.) You can then move onto Javascript and AJAX for more advanced/interactive features. You'll be amazed at how many SEO tools you can create in PHP.
...Then move onto VB for desktop based application development. There aren't many desktop applications that you can't write in VB these days, and you'll find a lot of features that are just easier to learn and access than with C.
Since so many things you're going to want to do will need to interface with the web, you may as well get to grips with HTML/CSS/PHP first though - as you'll need them anyway, and they're the easiest to start with!
I've been coding for 32 years - starting as a kid games-programmer on the Vic20 at 9... and I'm still learning - so don't expect your education to ever end (as with all things really!)
Good luck!
1) If you're starting out with coding, don't think you'll be producing bots and all-singing/all-dancing software within a few weeks; it'll take time.
2) If you have NO coding/scripting experience at all, then you may be better starting with some web/scripting languages first
VB/Visual basic is an application development environment, and it can be very powerful. it is also highly-accessible to starters.
C/C+/C++/C# is a systems language and is a 'lower-level' language which is often not suited to absolute beginners. It is far more strict in terms of syntax and is much less forgiving. There is also a steeper learning curve. It's the most powerful of all languages though, and mastering it will prepare you for most other languages - so it needs to be goal at some point.
Many people like starting with Java, as it's platform-independent, but don't confuse this with Javascript!
Personally, I would strongly recommend starting with HTML/CSS/PHP - as PHP will teach you the basics of what can be achieved with a programming/scripting language. It will also introduce you to API's (Application Programming Interfaces) and Databases (MySQL.) You can then move onto Javascript and AJAX for more advanced/interactive features. You'll be amazed at how many SEO tools you can create in PHP.
...Then move onto VB for desktop based application development. There aren't many desktop applications that you can't write in VB these days, and you'll find a lot of features that are just easier to learn and access than with C.
Since so many things you're going to want to do will need to interface with the web, you may as well get to grips with HTML/CSS/PHP first though - as you'll need them anyway, and they're the easiest to start with!
I've been coding for 32 years - starting as a kid games-programmer on the Vic20 at 9... and I'm still learning - so don't expect your education to ever end (as with all things really!)
Good luck!
Last edited:
thetrustedzone
Elite Member
- Jun 15, 2010
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go to http://www.w3schools.com/ and start learning html and php before any other langauge .
LukesDad
Junior Member
- Oct 24, 2009
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VB is very easy to start with and if you put enough efford in it, you can learn to write your own bots BUT it only runs on Windows boxes.
When coding in Java, you are not tied to one OS.
You should also consider if you want to build desktop applications or server applications. PHP is an easy one for server development.
When coding in Java, you are not tied to one OS.
You should also consider if you want to build desktop applications or server applications. PHP is an easy one for server development.
- Sep 23, 2009
- 6,075
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I would recommend you to go for c,c++ first
auuuu
Elite Member
- Jul 10, 2010
- 1,847
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Why man?
I am a programmer definitely not VB. I would recommend you start with Java look up netbeans IDE it's a free development tool and they have tons of free video and written tutorials for web or app programing. If you're interested in web development only I would recommend you switch to PHP after you grasp the basics of object oriented programming as tomcat and glassfish server hosting is still overpriced and very resource hungry. Java is the jack of all trades you can program mobile, cross platform and cross os. The java enterprise edition is very widely used in the industry most banks use it. C++ is the hackers choice its very efficient and dominates windows app and system programming and php still dominates web development.
jascoken gave you a perfect outline, and I think this is how most serious developer's history reads out.
Not saying you must follow his steps to the letter but general scripting languages such as php begin to teach you the basic fundamentals of coding and program structure. Think of this as your building blocks.
Java will allow you to develop some truly powerful apps as well. x-platform is priceless if you want to reach the maximum market. Java has became quite the little powerhouse lately. For those that have heard of the game MineCraft (fun little sandbox lego system type game) it's coded completely in java, it's multi-threaded, and has multiplayer/server functionality as well. I was quite impressed once I realized it was created in java.
Vb.net is a Windows Only solution I think it's actually beneath Java in terms of built-in capabilities. However it's Super Fast to generate applications, test, and develope. It's quite powerful in it's own right as well. Plus IMO it's my top choice as it tends to be a faster development cycle in terms of start to finish. For extendability to get it on par with C# you can add in API calls to access some of the more advanced functions in windows that you can't easily do within the .net framework.
Your ultimate goal and not by far the end of your programming journey should be C++ the most popular, stable, and widely used language used to develop Professional Grade software. (Most your every day applications that you purchase from established companies (not forum software) is coded in this.)
And there is also ASM as well but most people really have no purpose for this language as mostly hackers/software reverse engineers/security researchers use this to disassemble software for research purposes.
jascoken said it best Learn Never Ends, it's a process that continues on, or 'SHOULD' continue on until the day you die. It's how we evolve as programmers, personally, and as a human being.
I've been programming myself since 1997 and still continue to learn something new each and every day. Experimentation is also paramount to growing as a programmer. Once you figure out a solution to a given problem, experiment with new ways to make that solution more and more optimized, fast, less resource intensive..etc. I find it quite fun to go back a few months, years back and look at some of my old code/software and just laugh at how far i've evolved since then.
Not saying you must follow his steps to the letter but general scripting languages such as php begin to teach you the basic fundamentals of coding and program structure. Think of this as your building blocks.
Java will allow you to develop some truly powerful apps as well. x-platform is priceless if you want to reach the maximum market. Java has became quite the little powerhouse lately. For those that have heard of the game MineCraft (fun little sandbox lego system type game) it's coded completely in java, it's multi-threaded, and has multiplayer/server functionality as well. I was quite impressed once I realized it was created in java.
Vb.net is a Windows Only solution I think it's actually beneath Java in terms of built-in capabilities. However it's Super Fast to generate applications, test, and develope. It's quite powerful in it's own right as well. Plus IMO it's my top choice as it tends to be a faster development cycle in terms of start to finish. For extendability to get it on par with C# you can add in API calls to access some of the more advanced functions in windows that you can't easily do within the .net framework.
Your ultimate goal and not by far the end of your programming journey should be C++ the most popular, stable, and widely used language used to develop Professional Grade software. (Most your every day applications that you purchase from established companies (not forum software) is coded in this.)
And there is also ASM as well but most people really have no purpose for this language as mostly hackers/software reverse engineers/security researchers use this to disassemble software for research purposes.
jascoken said it best Learn Never Ends, it's a process that continues on, or 'SHOULD' continue on until the day you die. It's how we evolve as programmers, personally, and as a human being.
I've been programming myself since 1997 and still continue to learn something new each and every day. Experimentation is also paramount to growing as a programmer. Once you figure out a solution to a given problem, experiment with new ways to make that solution more and more optimized, fast, less resource intensive..etc. I find it quite fun to go back a few months, years back and look at some of my old code/software and just laugh at how far i've evolved since then.
smack
Junior Member
- Feb 1, 2010
- 182
- 80
oh boy here we go again.
time for me to make my obligatory curmudgeon post.
C# AND VB.NET ARE THE SAME UNDER THE HOOD.
they are both backed by the Microsoft .NET Framework. They are both compiled to MSIL before being translated to machine code. Aside from the syntax they are the same thing.
both powerful, high level languages.
time for me to make my obligatory curmudgeon post.
C# AND VB.NET ARE THE SAME UNDER THE HOOD.
they are both backed by the Microsoft .NET Framework. They are both compiled to MSIL before being translated to machine code. Aside from the syntax they are the same thing.
both powerful, high level languages.