I'll change from VB6 to C#, and why

[Phil in Austin]

Well, VB.Net is now totally different. Some things are the same, but much
is not. It's no secret that C++ guys have more job ops and better pay, so
now is a great time for me to make the leap, since I have to learn a whole
new language anyway. I missed the Java boat, where Java experts are now getting
6 figures, and VB guys get an average of half that. I'm not missing out on
this one. I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close. I vote C#.
It's my new direction...

Phil

[Jonathan Allen]

> I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close.

I wouldn't go that far. The hard part with C++ is the various pointer types,
which C# hides from you.

--
Jonathan Allen


"Phil in Austin" <nofearflyer@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3a5de4e0@news.devx.com...
>
> Well, VB.Net is now totally different. Some things are the same, but much
> is not. It's no secret that C++ guys have more job ops and better pay, so
> now is a great time for me to make the leap, since I have to learn a whole
> new language anyway. I missed the Java boat, where Java experts are now
getting
> 6 figures, and VB guys get an average of half that. I'm not missing out on
> this one. I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close. I vote C#.
> It's my new direction...
>
> Phil
>

[John Cantley]

"Phil in Austin" <nofearflyer@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3a5de4e0@news.devx.com...
>
> Well, VB.Net is now totally different. Some things are the same, but much
> is not. It's no secret that C++ guys have more job ops and better pay, so
> now is a great time for me to make the leap, since I have to learn a
whole
> new language anyway.

Not in my neck of the woods, Chicago. If you are going to be a programmer
then why would you limit yourself to one language anyway. I do both C++ and
VB, I don't plan on giving up on either of them. I do plan on adding C# to
my skillset.

> I missed the Java boat, where Java experts are now getting
> 6 figures, and VB guys get an average of half that.

I make as much as the java guys. How many years VB do you have? Why would
you think that you missed the boat. You have to start somewhere. Might as
well start now. By the time of the release of .NET you could be well on
your way to becoming one of those java experts. I prefer Microsoft so that
is where I will stay until they go under.

> I'm not missing out on this one. I'll get better at C++ too, because they
are close. I vote C#.
> It's my new direction...

They are close but not the same. Reminds me of java more than c++.

John

[Ian R]

That's not exactly true. Salary is usually based on experience, knowledge
and skills.
Opportunites vary and depend on what area of the industry you're looking at.
A VB programmer or Delphi for that matter with 5-10 years experience is
going make a lot more than a C++ programmer with 1-2 years experience.
Conversly a C programmer in the banking industry with more experience is
going to make a lot more than a Java programmer in the web industry. If
you're going to be a developer first pick an area that you're interested in,
then find out what the tools are and are going to be for that market. A good
developer uses tools that are appropriate for what he's/she's doing, not
because of some bias against others.

Phil in Austin <nofearflyer@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3a5de4e0@news.devx.com...
>
> Well, VB.Net is now totally different. Some things are the same, but much
> is not. It's no secret that C++ guys have more job ops and better pay, so
> now is a great time for me to make the leap, since I have to learn a whole
> new language anyway. I missed the Java boat, where Java experts are now
getting
> 6 figures, and VB guys get an average of half that. I'm not missing out on
> this one. I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close. I vote C#.
> It's my new direction...
>
> Phil
>

[Tim]

And if you have no experience, you will get no job, and your salary will be
none. You can always cook though. I do.

[Jonathan Allen]

> I think there is no difference between VB7 and C#,but syntax.

Then you haven't looked at them closely enough. They each have constructs
that don't exist in the other.

--
Jonathan Allen

[licy]

"Jonathan Allen" <greywolfcs@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>> I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close.
>
>I wouldn't go that far. The hard part with C++ is the various pointer types,
>which C# hides from you.
>
>--
>Jonathan Allen
>
>
>"Phil in Austin" <nofearflyer@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:3a5de4e0@news.devx.com...
>>
>> Well, VB.Net is now totally different. Some things are the same, but much
>> is not. It's no secret that C++ guys have more job ops and better pay,
so
>> now is a great time for me to make the leap, since I have to learn a whole
>> new language anyway. I missed the Java boat, where Java experts are now
>getting
>> 6 figures, and VB guys get an average of half that. I'm not missing out
on
>> this one. I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close. I vote C#.
>> It's my new direction...
>>
>> Phil
>>
>
>
I think there is no difference between VB7 and C#,but syntax.

[C# Guy]

One of the difference i can see is, C# lang specs submitted to ECMA(major
difference for Open standards lovers)

"Michael \(michka\) Kaplan" <former_mvp@spamfree.trigeminal.nospam.com> wrote:
>Nor majorly so.
>
>Its easy to claim that serbocroatan and croatoserbian are different
>languages; from some Nationalistic standpoint they are, after all. But
>linguists have no problem seeing them as mostly the same and Windows has
no
>problem giving them identical keyboards.
>
>They are mostly the same, especially from the 50,000 view of looking where
>to move to in the future.
>
>--
>MichKa
>
>a new book on internationalization in VB at
>http://www.i18nWithVB.com/
>
>"Jonathan Allen" <greywolfcs@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
>news:3a66694a@news.devx.com...
>> > I think there is no difference between VB7 and C#,but syntax.
>>
>> Then you haven't looked at them closely enough. They each have constructs
>> that don't exist in the other.
>>
>> --
>> Jonathan Allen
>>
>>
>
>

[jose]

If you are coming from VB6...go to JAVA. Don't waste your time with C++ cause
it is complex and by the time you become really good at C++ you could be
getting that 6 figure with JAVA. You haven't missed the boat...I mean...come
on...aren't they just releasing the 2.0 specification now?

"licy" <licy@usa.com> wrote:
>
>"Jonathan Allen" <greywolfcs@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>>> I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close.
>>
>>I wouldn't go that far. The hard part with C++ is the various pointer types,
>>which C# hides from you.
>>
>>--
>>Jonathan Allen
>>
>>
>>"Phil in Austin" <nofearflyer@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:3a5de4e0@news.devx.com...
>>>
>>> Well, VB.Net is now totally different. Some things are the same, but
much
>>> is not. It's no secret that C++ guys have more job ops and better pay,
>so
>>> now is a great time for me to make the leap, since I have to learn a
whole
>>> new language anyway. I missed the Java boat, where Java experts are now
>>getting
>>> 6 figures, and VB guys get an average of half that. I'm not missing out
>on
>>> this one. I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close. I vote
C#.
>>> It's my new direction...
>>>
>>> Phil
>>>
>>
>>
>I think there is no difference between VB7 and C#,but syntax.
>

[Craig Somberg]

There is a big professional change in moving from MS languages to JAVA. I
would personally go from VB6 to C# as I wish to stay Microsoft centric in
the technologies I support. Also, for me the combination of using C# to build
COM+ and VB? with everything else brings a strong skill set to a project.

In many instances, going to JAVA brings you into the Unix world and Oracle.

With Microsoft SQL2000, many organizations are looking back at using MS Technologies
for serious Enterprise solutions as JAVA/UNIX and Oracle are very costly
to implement and maintain.

Just a thought ...

Craig


"licy" <licy@usa.com> wrote:
>
>"Jonathan Allen" <greywolfcs@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>>> I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close.
>>
>>I wouldn't go that far. The hard part with C++ is the various pointer types,
>>which C# hides from you.
>>
>>--
>>Jonathan Allen
>>
>>
>>"Phil in Austin" <nofearflyer@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:3a5de4e0@news.devx.com...
>>>
>>> Well, VB.Net is now totally different. Some things are the same, but
much
>>> is not. It's no secret that C++ guys have more job ops and better pay,
>so
>>> now is a great time for me to make the leap, since I have to learn a
whole
>>> new language anyway. I missed the Java boat, where Java experts are now
>>getting
>>> 6 figures, and VB guys get an average of half that. I'm not missing out
>on
>>> this one. I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close. I vote
C#.
>>> It's my new direction...
>>>
>>> Phil
>>>
>>
>>
>I think there is no difference between VB7 and C#,but syntax.
>

[RichardB]

"Craig Somberg" <csomberg@stageone.com> wrote:
>
>There is a big professional change in moving from MS languages to JAVA.
I
>would personally go from VB6 to C# as I wish to stay Microsoft centric in
>the technologies I support. Also, for me the combination of using C# to
build
>COM+ and VB? with everything else brings a strong skill set to a project.
>
>In many instances, going to JAVA brings you into the Unix world and Oracle.
>
>With Microsoft SQL2000, many organizations are looking back at using MS
Technologies
>for serious Enterprise solutions as JAVA/UNIX and Oracle are very costly
>to implement and maintain.
>
>Just a thought ...
>
>Craig
>>>>
>>I think there is no difference between VB7 and C#,but syntax.
>>
>

I agree with Craig. If C# was not on the horizon I would be considering moving
across to Java.

But moving to Java entails more than just learning Java, you also have to
learn all of the associated technologies, and if you don't work with them
on a daily basis it would be next to impossible. After all, how long did
it take most us to learn COM/MTS/COM+, IIS, ADO, ASP etc? It is knowledge
of the associated technologies that makes a programmer really useful.

I also mork for a MS shop, and I do not want to move.

Moving to C# also means that I can still use my VB skills with VB.Net as
well, which is rather handy.

For me, the most important reason for moving to C# from VB is the fact that
it is likely that the C# dudes will get the more technically challenging
work.

I also like the fact that I'll be using the same language as the developers
at Redmond have been using for quite some time. ASP+ is written in C#, so
the language must be relatively mature. VB.Net is relatively untried.

Just my $ 0.02 worth.

Richard.

[C#HereICome]

I agree with Craig!!!

I just signed a consultant contract to help a team of developers build web
based MS applications using all the next generation software that is due
out by MS as well as the technologies available today. And yes it was a
6 figure deal, but more importantly, you need to be comfortable with the
langauges and the environment they run on.... so don't make a jump to Java
or any other langauge because of money, do what you like to do and do it
well, keep up with the tools available in that environment, and the money
will come.

Tim

"Craig Somberg" <csomberg@stageone.com> wrote:
>
>There is a big professional change in moving from MS languages to JAVA.
I
>would personally go from VB6 to C# as I wish to stay Microsoft centric in
>the technologies I support. Also, for me the combination of using C# to
build
>COM+ and VB? with everything else brings a strong skill set to a project.
>
>In many instances, going to JAVA brings you into the Unix world and Oracle.
>
>With Microsoft SQL2000, many organizations are looking back at using MS
Technologies
>for serious Enterprise solutions as JAVA/UNIX and Oracle are very costly
>to implement and maintain.
>
>Just a thought ...
>
>Craig
>
>
>"licy" <licy@usa.com> wrote:
>>
>>"Jonathan Allen" <greywolfcs@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>>>> I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close.
>>>
>>>I wouldn't go that far. The hard part with C++ is the various pointer
types,
>>>which C# hides from you.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Jonathan Allen
>>>
>>>
>>>"Phil in Austin" <nofearflyer@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>news:3a5de4e0@news.devx.com...
>>>>
>>>> Well, VB.Net is now totally different. Some things are the same, but
>much
>>>> is not. It's no secret that C++ guys have more job ops and better pay,
>>so
>>>> now is a great time for me to make the leap, since I have to learn a
>whole
>>>> new language anyway. I missed the Java boat, where Java experts are
now
>>>getting
>>>> 6 figures, and VB guys get an average of half that. I'm not missing
out
>>on
>>>> this one. I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close. I vote
>C#.
>>>> It's my new direction...
>>>>
>>>> Phil
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>I think there is no difference between VB7 and C#,but syntax.
>>

[Peter]

I totally agree. I have used VB for about six years and I am a MCSD with VB/SQL
Server track. Now I am updating it to VC++/SQL Server track. The C# makes
a good case to dump VB all together since the CLR is really much more than
VB itself. And Microsoft makes much more arbitrary changes to VB than VC++
(or even FoxPro!) for each Visual Studio release, effectively making VB a
loser in the long run in terms of learning curve. On top of that, people
in the C++/Java world don't really think much of VB. And that hurts our market
value, too.

Now is the time to do it. I am saying goodbye to VB.

Peter

"C#HereICome" <timc@techie.com> wrote:
>
>I agree with Craig!!!
>
>I just signed a consultant contract to help a team of developers build web
>based MS applications using all the next generation software that is due
>out by MS as well as the technologies available today. And yes it was a
>6 figure deal, but more importantly, you need to be comfortable with the
>langauges and the environment they run on.... so don't make a jump to Java
>or any other langauge because of money, do what you like to do and do it
>well, keep up with the tools available in that environment, and the money
>will come.
>
>Tim
>
>"Craig Somberg" <csomberg@stageone.com> wrote:
>>
>>There is a big professional change in moving from MS languages to JAVA.
>I
>>would personally go from VB6 to C# as I wish to stay Microsoft centric
in
>>the technologies I support. Also, for me the combination of using C# to
>build
>>COM+ and VB? with everything else brings a strong skill set to a project.
>>
>>In many instances, going to JAVA brings you into the Unix world and Oracle.
>>
>>With Microsoft SQL2000, many organizations are looking back at using MS
>Technologies
>>for serious Enterprise solutions as JAVA/UNIX and Oracle are very costly
>>to implement and maintain.
>>
>>Just a thought ...
>>
>>Craig
>>
>>
>>"licy" <licy@usa.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>"Jonathan Allen" <greywolfcs@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>>>>> I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close.
>>>>
>>>>I wouldn't go that far. The hard part with C++ is the various pointer
>types,
>>>>which C# hides from you.
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>Jonathan Allen
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Phil in Austin" <nofearflyer@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:3a5de4e0@news.devx.com...
>>>>>
>>>>> Well, VB.Net is now totally different. Some things are the same, but
>>much
>>>>> is not. It's no secret that C++ guys have more job ops and better pay,
>>>so
>>>>> now is a great time for me to make the leap, since I have to learn
a
>>whole
>>>>> new language anyway. I missed the Java boat, where Java experts are
>now
>>>>getting
>>>>> 6 figures, and VB guys get an average of half that. I'm not missing
>out
>>>on
>>>>> this one. I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close. I vote
>>C#.
>>>>> It's my new direction...
>>>>>
>>>>> Phil
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>I think there is no difference between VB7 and C#,but syntax.
>>>
>

[Richard]

"Peter" <pwchen26@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>I totally agree. I have used VB for about six years and I am a MCSD with
VB/SQL
>Server track. Now I am updating it to VC++/SQL Server track. The C# makes
>a good case to dump VB all together since the CLR is really much more than
>VB itself. And Microsoft makes much more arbitrary changes to VB than VC++
>(or even FoxPro!) for each Visual Studio release, effectively making VB
a
>loser in the long run in terms of learning curve. On top of that, people
>in the C++/Java world don't really think much of VB. And that hurts our
market
>value, too.
>
>Now is the time to do it. I am saying goodbye to VB.
>
>Peter

Ditto. I too am a VB MCSD who will be moving across to c#. I am growing tired
of MS changing VB at their pleasure. As C# has been submitted as a standard,
hopefully the language will be reasonably stable.

I will miss VB, but I can see it becoming less prevalent in the future.

Richard.

[kataklsm]

And once you "master" pointers, then you get to move on to
fuction / class templates, STL, ANSI/ISO Standard C/C++ libraries,
MFC, ATL, IDL....coding COM in C/C++ still makes my skin crawl
even with the ATL wizards.

C# helps with the basic syntax of C/C++ (and concepts in OOP),
but that's as close as it gets. Once you step outside the .NET
world, (pray you wont have to), the learning curve steeps
dramatically.

There's a reason the Petzhold and Prosise Win32 API / MFC books
are 1000+ pages



"Jonathan Allen" <greywolfcs@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>> I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close.
>
>I wouldn't go that far. The hard part with C++ is the various pointer types,
>which C# hides from you.
>
>--
>Jonathan Allen
>
>
>"Phil in Austin" <nofearflyer@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:3a5de4e0@news.devx.com...
>>
>> Well, VB.Net is now totally different. Some things are the same, but much
>> is not. It's no secret that C++ guys have more job ops and better pay,
so
>> now is a great time for me to make the leap, since I have to learn a whole
>> new language anyway. I missed the Java boat, where Java experts are now
>getting
>> 6 figures, and VB guys get an average of half that. I'm not missing out
on
>> this one. I'll get better at C++ too, because they are close. I vote C#.
>> It's my new direction...
>>
>> Phil
>>
>
>