.NET - what is it about please

[Martin]

Due to the the large numbers of MS trained programmers unemployed we are
looking at using MS Development environments.

VB programmers are currently 10 a penny.

However I find C a bit more logical as I come from a Clipper background.

Current;y .NET seems to be the latest fashion, so what is it about and
should we use it please?

Thanks for any advice

 

[William Ryan]

looking at using MS Development environments.>>

That's no reason to choose a programming language. However, I find it
pretty hard to believe that there are a 'large number' or good programmers
out there that are unemployed. Guess they haven't heard about monster or
dice. In any case, if that's your main reason, then you'll hvae trouble.
They'll eventually hear about Monster or Dice and probably take jobs
elsewhere.
<<> VB programmers are currently 10 a penny.>> Not good ones. And VB
programmers are much different from VB.NET programmers. There are a lot of
decent vb programmers who hate .NET b/c it's a world of difference.>>

<<However I find C a bit more logical as I come from a Clipper background.>>
More logical than what? I thought you didn't know .NET and if not, then how
can you compare it to C? If that's the case, write in C# or J#.

should we use it please?>> Much more than fashion. Hard to believe that

you haven't heard much about it yet. If you don't mind me asking, what
Magazines, Journals are you reading. I read quite a few and they all have
been discussing .NET for the last two years. However, if you go to MSDN, or
hit google, there will be more links than you can imagine. Can't really sum
up .NEt in one NG Post.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[Martin]

That's no reason to choose a programming language. However, I find it
Lots of boom bust companies in the UK

Didn't know that - I thought VB.Net was VB with nice extras

Interesting

VB - I find it quite horrible to code in

I don't but I have some VB experience (and it wasn't good)

Computer Weekly, Computing

Didn't know where to start!

Thanks

We have had a management decision, we started with Xbase++ but we cannot get
any programmers to help. So management has decided that even though VB is
slower and more clunky faster PCs will hide that. We will leave the 25%
already in XBase in it (lovely database handling) and get some VB or similar
programmers in to help.

My experience with VB was debugging someone elses code and rewriting the
database access. This is when I found that they had used LFN and my text
editor truncated them - I found the text editor in VB totally unusable,
(unlike VC).

I have had a few recommends to try VS.NET so I am doing some research.

The two VB programers we have had in the past - one became a hardware guru
and moved on, the other was a dick and got the order of the boot.

However with the crash in the UK market with web sites and lots of IT
redundancies there are now quite a few MS qualified programmers around.

Even though I have 14 years of Clipper, 3 years of Xbase, bits and pieces of
C and Basic, I find I can debug almost any readable language (it is my skill
if you like!)

However I cannot now handle a language which does not inherit, or aims to
look very command driven, (function or command - function please).

This is why C# looks interesting. (too me)

 

[Thomas Tomiczek \(MVP\)]

Hmpf. THIS is an interesting post.

Lots of boom bust companies in the UK

Yes, but 95% inqualified programmers like everywhere on the planet. And most
good ones are known and taken fast.

Didn't know that - I thought VB.Net was VB with nice extras

Yes. This is like a pizza is raw meat with "some nice extras".

Most VB programemrs have no clue about architecture, inheritance, objects.

Interesting

Sure. They hate it because they have to learn programming for it.

<<However I find C a bit more logical as I come from a Clipper background.>>

VB - I find it quite horrible to code in

Me too WHich is why I use C#.

I don't but I have some VB experience (and it wasn't good)

Then dont talk about things ou ahve no clue about.

Computer Weekly, Computing

There were articles about .NET in there.

Didn't know where to start!


Thanks

We have had a management decision, we started with Xbase++ but we cannot

get

Stupid question: WHEN?

any programmers to help. So management has decided that even though VB is

Naturally. Hell, I had not heard about XBase++ until today.

slower and more clunky faster PCs will hide that. We will leave the 25%

VB is slower, VB.NET is not.

already in XBase in it (lovely database handling) and get some VB or

similar

"lovely database handling"?

"LOVELY DATABASE HANDLING"?

Are you nuts?

Frankly, "lovely database handling" means I dont have to write any SQL at
all and use an O/R mapper or a middleware. Something where I dont have to
write ANY sql anymore for my regular transactional stuff.

programmers in to help.

Ah, try not to get idiots.

My experience with VB was debugging someone elses code and rewriting the
database access. This is when I found that they had used LFN and my text
editor truncated them - I found the text editor in VB totally unusable,
(unlike VC).

It is not only the text editor - it starts with the need for a line
continuation character

I have had a few recommends to try VS.NET so I am doing some research.

Grab your copy (you DO have a MSDN subscription as a company doing
development, right? I mean, you should be in the MS Empower program anyway).

The two VB programers we have had in the past - one became a hardware guru
and moved on, the other was a dick and got the order of the boot.

"one became a hardware guru". Must have been an impressive programmer.

However with the crash in the UK market with web sites and lots of IT
redundancies there are now quite a few MS qualified programmers around.

"MS qualified programmer" is NOT a good programmer. This is like saying
someone whow passed the theory test for a driving license is a good formular
one driver.

All the certificates every said was the guy is good in reading the boks and
has a good understanding of the .NET framework.

IUt says nothing on whether he is a good programmer or not.

Even though I have 14 years of Clipper, 3 years of Xbase, bits and pieces of
C and Basic, I find I can debug almost any readable language (it is my skill
if you like!)

Yea. Interesting background - you should consider training up to some
common,ly used langauge. I would move your resume to the side when it would
come to my table, as it has no refernces to anything developped in the last
years.

However I cannot now handle a language which does not inherit, or aims to
look very command driven, (function or command - function please).

This is why C# looks interesting. (too me)

It IS interesting. I love it.

Thomas Tomiczek
THONA Software & Consulting Ltd.
(Microsoft MVP C#/.NET)

 

[tal]

The essense of .NET is that it provides a means for true
write once in your favorite language, run anywhere. The
language support is extensive and the ability to write
each part of an application in any language and seamlessly
combine the results if fully realized. Where the vision
is far from realized is in the area of run anywhere.

The seamless integration of components written in
different languages and the potential of writing once and
running anywhere comes from the Common Language Type (CLT)
system which defines the representation of all fundamental
types and the Common Language Runtime (CLR) which defines
an ECMA standard execution engine for Intermediate
Language (IL) instructions which makes execution platform
independent. Execution of IL is similar to the execution
of Java Byte Code with a much lower cost of execution.
This lowered cost comes from the requirement that the CLR
perform Just In Time (JIT) compilation and manage of cache
of the resulting machine specific instructions. The
caching means that a given section of IL instructions only
needs to be compiled once so any section of code that is
executed more than once performs at near native code
speeds.

You should look into the concept of managed code to
complete your understanding of .NET. This is a
significant factor in making .NET development
substantially faster than VB or C++ development.

Hope you find what you need.

 

[William Ryan]

VB.NET and VB have only two things in Common, they both have VB in their
name, and they have a similar syntax.

Let me put it this way. Take a top notch VB.NET programmer and tell him to
learn C#. It won't take him very long to do. Take a top notch VB6
programmer and tell him to learn VB.NET, count on a few months before he's
really good at it. This depends on how much effort he puts into it, but
it's a lot easier to learn C# from VB.NET then VB.NET from VB6.

This is as good of a starting place as any http://www.microsoft.com/net/

Don't worry about syntax when learning .NET, worry about learning .NET,
syntax is the easy part. Too many people get distracted with this stuff,
and it's a total waste of time. Once you learn .NET, you can move around no
problem. But a lot of of thing in VB are totally wrong in VB.NET (and C#).
I'll bet that turning on OPtion Strict (which should ALWAYS be done with
only one or two exceptions) is enough to drive a lot of VB6 programmers
crazy.

HTH,

Bill

 

[José Joye]

To me, a good learning path for .Net was to study for the MCAD/MCSD exams.
At first, I was not that convinced. However, it is really a good track to
get up to speed with this technology.

José

 

[Martin]

Most VB programemrs have no clue about architecture, inheritance,
objects.

I noticed that

OK

VC than VB
Aha - a recommend!
Called learning
I'll have to look closer and read more than DPMs diary


Been using it properly for a year but can't find staff who can use it

OK

It is ISAM and I like and understand ISAM - been using it since late 80s
Nothing wrong with the DBF file format when you are using it Client Server

I find SQL is not much use for the type of system we use
Got some before, difficult to weed out
It expired and thet are are waiting for the cheque

Not bad but he was a natural with servers

To me a good programmer is someone who was years of experience and can write
software which works.

LOL
Yes

Our main application is still being developed as required and is a mix of
Clipper and MSC8

I'll have to try it

Thanks for your help

 

[Martin]

VB.NET and VB have only two things in Common, they both have VB in their

Thanks
THanks
OK

Thanks for your advice

 

[Martin]

Lots of info

Thanks