Update to .NET & time required ?

[wpilgri]

I am currently using VB6 for simple applications. I am an engineer, not a professional programmer, and use it for relatively simple data acquisition applications where it talks to a USB board. I am interested in updating to VB.NET but wonder how much time I am looking at to become "reasonably proficient". Any suggestions based on experience? I have some 3rd party ActiveX controls that I believe will still work with .NET. From what I've read, it sounds like .NET is a significant change compared to VB6.

Thank You

 

[bboffin]

Given that you are familiar with VB6 and have some suitable controls I would stick with it for the moment.

However if you have the time it might be worth running a couple of your programs through the converter and see what comes out. You should be able to use the ActiveX controls from within VB.NET but the VB syntax changes take a bit of getting used to.

If you like what you get (don't hold your breath as the converter doesn't produce the prettiest code!) then go for it.

Good luck


Bob Boffin

 

[ThatRickGuy]

The biggest change to adapt to is the move to Object Orriented (OO) coding. I would suggest sticking with your VB6 solutions for now if you are not planning any large scale app developement. If you want to get into .net, get a book and a copy of .Net Studio. Once you get the hang of OO coding you realise it's not so bad. And once you get proficient at it, you wonder how you ever managed in VB 6 But it does take time to learn and adjust.

-Rick

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http://www.ringdev.com

 

[wpilgri]

I wonder how much a background in Java will help, if at all, in learning VB.Net? I spent about a 1.5 years getting to know Java. I like the syntax of the langauge and the OO part of it, but the GUI toolkit (swing) leaves something to be desired. Amazing how similar C# looks to Java.

Having said all that, I still prefer VB!

 

[ThatRickGuy]

Knowing the OO nature of Java will be a huge help. All OO languages handle in the same way, inheritance, classes, instantiations. Jumping from C++ to Java to VB.Net is just a matter of syntax. VB.Net has the advantage of retaining VB 6's GUI developement IDE. Java on the other hand has a big bag of fecal mater know of as Swing. Who the crap ever thought 5 anchor spots(Top, Bottom, Left, Right, Center) would be a good idea? I mean, people rag on Bill Gates for the whole 512k thing, but at that point in time, it made sence. The 5 area thing has never made sence.

Even worse the the horride idea that is layoutmanagers, is that people in projects' decisive positions are making the conclusion that Java is a good language to develop network based office applications in.

-Rick

PS: I'm not jada out Java or anything

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http://www.ringdev.com