Visual Basic.NET Programming

VB.NET Getting Started

By Hafeez Mohammed

Introduction

VB.NET will be big business.

You may not realise it now, but by the end of this year it's likely to be the hottest buzzword around, if it isn't already.

The prerequisites? The ability to use earlier versions of "VB".

But why is there so much hype? Well, VB.NET is the next version of Visual Basic – and it brings with it huge changes.

We're not talking about a couple of controls here and there. A new keyword, a little extra functionality. We're talking about a change so drastic, it's the biggest move Visual Basic has seen since.

Now wouldn't it be nice to learn about this new tool before the final version hits the market?

That's what this course is about. In just seven weeks, we'll know all about the VB.NET essentials.

But there's a lot to cover and time is running out. So brace yourself, coders as we prepare to face a new dawn in the history of programming.

What Is It?

There's so much hype surrounding this VB.NET thing that it's sometimes difficult to figure out what it actually is.

It can be said as the next version, this next version is just one part of what Microsoft are calling the '.NET strategy' – essentially a grand plan guaranteed to bring big changes to the software world. And big changes to our bank balance as well.

One key component of this plan is the revamping of its major programming languages. This means a new version of Visual Basic – plus a completely new language called C# (pronounced C-Sharp.

But how is this next version different to any other upgrade? After all, the change from Visual Basic 5 to Visual Basic 6 didn't rouse quite so much interest!

However VB.NET – also known by its lesser-cool name, Visual Basic 7 – is built on something called the '.NET Framework'.

Now this .NET Framework essentially sits on top of the operating system. And it handles everything from memory management to rendering a user interface.

When you program in VB.NET, you're dealing with this framework thing. And that framework thing brings with it a bunch of 'classes' that provide you with a heap of functionality – from a function to reverse a string through to procedures that really take you to the heart of the operating system, perhaps procedures that had never before been available to VB developers.

In addition, the framework allows you to forget about memory management. It's incredibly scalable and even brings an end to the infamous 'DLL Hell' by getting rid of GUIDs, registration and all that automatically.

It's the framework that allows you to create in VB.NET everything from DOS-style console applications through to Web sites – in just the same way as you would any regular desktop application!

But what is this framework? Is it a program? Is it an operating system? What?

It's actually all of those things. It's an 'upgrade' if you like – an add-on to Windows. It's incredibly useful and it will soon be bundled by default with every Microsoft operating system. In the meantime, you'll find it on the Windows Component Update CD that ships with VB.NET Betas.

Remember– you need the .NET Framework before you can run any program created in a .NET language.

OK, in brief - VB.NET is the next version of Visual Basic, scheduled for release later this year. It is tightly coupled with the .NET Framework, a cool 'functionality layer' that sits on top of the operating system.