What is it?
In the 1990s, Visual Basic was used to build client applications
for Windows. In making Visual Basic.net, Microsoft has extensively
re-engineered its workhorse language to add the ability to create
XML web service applications as well.
The result is a language with more productivity improvements, but
with significant differences from its immediate predecessor Visual
Basic 6.
Microsoft dropped its "lifetime compatibility" commitments,
conceding that only about 95% of Visual Basic 6 code could be
automatically upgraded to Visual Basic.net, and that the rest would
have to be manually modified.
Following a hostile reaction to the beta version, Microsoft
backtracked on some of the more radical changes. But hopes that the
old-style Visual Basic would continue to evolve in parallel with
its successor have been dashed. Microsoft is dropping the .net
suffix from the next version, Visual Basic 2005, which is now
downloadable in beta.
Where did it originate?
Visual Basic was launched in 1991, providing a relatively simple
alternative to C++ for Windows application development. It offered
an intuitive, graphical development environment which enabled
programmers at all levels of skill to produce applications by
dragging and dropping controls onto a form.
What makes it special?
Among many productivity and debugging improvements in Visual Basic
2005, Microsoft has reinstated edit-and-continue and other rapid
application development features which were dropped in Visual
Basic.net.
Benchmarker Doculabs indicates a threefold increase in throughput
of Visual Basic.net applications over Visual Basic 6, and a
doubling of supported users.
What's it for?
Visual Basic.net represents the convergence of Microsoft's desktop
and web development technologies. It provides a single
drag-and-drop development model for both desktop and web
applications. It can also be used for much larger server-side
developments. Visual Basic 2005 includes new ways of managing the
.net framework, such as the My hierarchy.
How difficult is it to master?
You can learn to programme with Visual Basic on a five-day crash
course. Microsoft claims that existing Visual Basic 6 developers
will have few problems moving to Visual Basic.net. With the
restoring of some of the productivity features of Visual Basic 6 in
Visual Basic 2005, this may be true.
There is a lightweight version for first-timers: Visual Basic 2005
Express Edition, a beta version is available for download.
Where is it used?
From its ubiquitous role on the desktop, Visual Basic is scaling up
to server side developments. It is available from single-user to
team-development Enterprise editions.
What is coming up?
Visual Studio 2005 is also downloadable as a beta.
Training
Microsoft training is delivered through the network of authorised
technical education centres, via the web or using CD-based courses.
There are some free tutorials on the web, but if you want to be
certified, you will need to use the authorised route.
Rates of pay
Salaries are typically between £25,000 and £35,000, less for the
very junior roles and much more in the City or with mobile device
programming experience.