Visual Basic (VB) Versus Java, C++, C# and the Kitchen Sink

It feels like I've just walked out of a cave after the bombs fell. I just spent the last five years completing an engineering degree while basically ignoring the software tool war. I am out now and here's how I see it.

Visual studio 6 code bases in VB and VC++ are still out there. Oh yes, waiting to be moved. Many have come over to the .NET side. Some have joined the Java rebellion. The empire has created a way to tame the Java savages by providing C#. Many have been enticed to join. Sadly for the VB stalwarts, many of their ranks have moved to C# as well. Ah, but C# is really a tool for the younger crowd. Long time experienced programmers know that the language is trivial and the code base is king. As long as VB is supported as a direct competitor to VC++ and VC#, it will remain strong.

For my experience porting a VC6 application to .NET, in this case 2005, I was forced to draw a line between my un-managed code and my new managed work. Many of my hardware libraries are not supported as managed code so I did need to dance on the head of this pin. To my surprise it just worked.

Then came the choice, VB vs. VC#. For me the decision was based on how many answers to questions I would find on the web sporting examples in my chosen language. It was a draw. I never found any question that didn't have clear examples in both. And to be honest, the two languages are so close it just wouldn't matter anyway.

Next it came down to preference. I have been programming in VB and C++ since they were created. So for me, I could not care either way. Back in the old days there was an advantage of compiled vs. run-time. With this out of the picture, it was again a draw.

The final criteria should have been first from the start. What would I rather show a customer or train a young programmer from another discipline? How hard will it be to teach to an Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineer? For this I chose VB. I have shown customers both and they seem to like the idea of VB better.

This is not really a great technical reason, but it is a great reason.
Author Charles William King Jr.
University of Michigan B.S.E Interdisciplinary Engineering/Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Owner Charles King Consulting
Custom interactive voice response (IVR) and context intelligent web applications in .NET
http://www.charleskingconsulting.com/

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