no more visual basic?

[mike]

Hi everyone. Looking for opinions. I am currently taking classes for vb 6.0
level one. I was hoping at the tme to take the intermediate and advanced
classes also. Problem being is they are no longer offered. I am think that
the new vb.net that is soon to be released could be the reason? I am wondering
at this point if once I finish this course if I should move onto c/c++ c#
or java? What is everones opinon on this and what should I do.

[simon]

Mike,

Unless you want to do maintenance work in the next few years, I don't think
you should go too deep into VB6 at this time, if you have not already
learned that. I suggest you to learn C++ (skip C, you don't need to know C
to learn C++.... well, unless you want to do very low level programming with
limitation on memory, then go with C) and Java. C# is still in its infancy
and the final product is going to be different. It is wise to get familiar
with it but don't spend too much time on it right now. You should turn up
the gear when Microsoft brings out the Release Candicate later this year.

Hope this helps.

simon.



"mike" <michaeln@snet.net> wrote in message news:3ad5a7dd$1@news.devx.com...
>
> Hi everyone. Looking for opinions. I am currently taking classes for vb
6.0
> level one. I was hoping at the tme to take the intermediate and advanced
> classes also. Problem being is they are no longer offered. I am think that
> the new vb.net that is soon to be released could be the reason? I am
wondering
> at this point if once I finish this course if I should move onto c/c++ c#
> or java? What is everones opinon on this and what should I do.

[Mike]

Well thats kinda what I was thinking. I was little disappointed to say the
least. When I initially signed up for this vb course I guess I should have
dug a little deeper into the topic. It wasnt till after I signed up and started
taking the classes that I realized that they were moving to vb.net. From
what I have read it will be basicly the same with some ne added features.
I guess I will have to start looking into c++. My biggest concern right now
is I will be jobless soon. The software company that I work for is going
thru restructuring and our office is being closed because of it. IT is a
very diffucult field to get your foot in and now Im afraid that I wont be
able to get in again with the dying economy.





"simon" <substring0@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Mike,
>
>Unless you want to do maintenance work in the next few years, I don't think
>you should go too deep into VB6 at this time, if you have not already
>learned that. I suggest you to learn C++ (skip C, you don't need to know
C
>to learn C++.... well, unless you want to do very low level programming
with
>limitation on memory, then go with C) and Java. C# is still in its infancy
>and the final product is going to be different. It is wise to get familiar
>with it but don't spend too much time on it right now. You should turn
up
>the gear when Microsoft brings out the Release Candicate later this year.
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>simon.
>
>
>
>"mike" <michaeln@snet.net> wrote in message news:3ad5a7dd$1@news.devx.com...
>>
>> Hi everyone. Looking for opinions. I am currently taking classes for vb
>6.0
>> level one. I was hoping at the tme to take the intermediate and advanced
>> classes also. Problem being is they are no longer offered. I am think
that
>> the new vb.net that is soon to be released could be the reason? I am
>wondering
>> at this point if once I finish this course if I should move onto c/c++
c#
>> or java? What is everones opinon on this and what should I do.
>

[don]

mike,

Don't get caught-up in the language/marketing hype. It isn't worth the stress.
Learn C++. It gives you a better understanding of programming, it isn't
proprietary, and it makes learning other languages easier.

Study data structures & algorithms, design patterns and anything related
to software engineering, analysis/design best practices. These are things
you can apply to any language. As you learn more languages, you'll start
learning them faster. Always look for ways to apply what you know.

Once you know C++, learn java or C#. At this point, you'll notice you keep
asking the same questions, like 'what does this language do best/worst?'.
Then comes, 'what language is best suited for this task?'.

Learn some 'supporting' languages, like SQL, XML, etc.
Soon, you'll have a bag of tricks.

VB6 - There is and will be a lot of code written in VB6. Knowing VB6 will
get you in the door at companies that need someone to port an app to Java
or whatever. But don't waste time learning all the 'little tricks', they
won't work in the new version. That's why all the former experts are p'd
off. They won't be selling anymore books on work-arounds that shouldn't
be necessary in the first place.

That's my 2 cents.