Why is Visual Basic ridiculed?

[zedpenguin]

Im just curious, I don't have much experience as a programmer but i like using VB to make small little widety style programs.

[robmaister12]

VB just doesn't look clean to me at all. I feel very unproductive in VB.NET just because of the bloat around it, if I want to define a variable:

"Dim myInt As Integer = 3" instead of just "int myInt = 3;"

If I want to use more than 1 line for a long command, I'd have to use _ at the end of each line in VB.
Having to explicitly state that you're ending an if or ending a sub just gets annoying, I can understand how that's supposed to prevent bugs where a mismatched set of { } would cause strange errors, but with just about any modern IDE, it'll highlight the other bracket for you, and if you tab correctly it shouldn't be much of an issue

But most of all I can't compress repetitive things on one line, namely switch case blocks (which I believe are select case blocks in VB.NET?).

[csharp]switch(someInt)
{
case 0: OneMethod(); someBool = false; break;
case 1: AnotherMethod(); someBool = false; break;
case 2: OppositeMethod(); someBool = true; break;
}[/csharp]

and again in VB.NET:

[csharp]Select Case someInt
Case 0
OneMethod()
someBool = false
Case 1
AnotherMethod()
someBool = false
Case 2
OppositeMethod()
someBool = true
End Select[/csharp]

[zedpenguin]

ok, just curious.

[Nikita]

It's because we had to learn it on old Pentium 2's inside a DOS-like window and our IT books were 60 years old and our teacher was funny.

[robmaister12]

[QUOTE=zedpenguin;30491254]ok, just curious.[/QUOTE]

It's not that big a deal, C# just feels more natural to me than VB, and I feel that a lot of people here would agree with that (or that C, C++, Java, etc. do)

What you code in is your choice, while we can present arguments as to why one language is better than another, we can't force you to switch languages. If you feel you can write [del]GUI interfaces to track the killer's IP[/del] small widget-like programs in VB more efficiently than in any other programming language, then by all means, continue writing in VB.

[wwlfr]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkDD03yeLnU[/media]

GONNA CREATE A GOOEY INTERFACEE

[Gook Nukem]

I'm pretty sure it's ridiculed because it's easy. People ridicule Game Maker because it's easy, too. You can make professional products in both. There are very successful games for sale that have been made in Game Maker, and there are probably a few baker's dozens of successful applications for sale that were programmed in Visual Basic.

I find it funny that I've seen someone post a screenshot of an application they made, and people generally liked it and asked what it was written in. As soon as Visual Basic was mentioned, he was laughed at. :frown:

[editline]16th June 2011[/editline]

[QUOTE=robmaister12;30491412]It's not that big a deal, C# just feels more natural to me than VB, and I feel that a lot of people here would agree with that (or that C, C++, Java, etc. do)[/QUOTE]
I can agree with this though. I really prefer C#'s syntax.

[Robert64]

One of the main problems I have is arrays using (), and when setting the length of an array you use the length - 1

[mrmr]

I too wanted to know this. Seems most of the problems are just with how its written and not with the way it works. Only reason I learned VB was because that's the only language they offered at collage.

[HubmaN]

The whole notion that syntax and grammar like written English is more intuitive is flawed.

[backwardspy]

In my opinion, the whole language just looks ugly

[efeX]

its ugly as fuck

[Imhotep]

I have to agree, VB looks like ass.

Then again, C++ lambdas aren't exactly the model of beauty either:

auto f = [](){};

[inkysprite]

I prefer C++, but my experience with VB is currently far greater :/

My most recent program I created in VB but I was happy with it because I still managed to make it look nice and functional.

VB to me is more of a learning/beginners language and in a lot of ways a good base to start learning C on.

VB can be Object Orientated but is very difficult to create anything really graphical such as games. This is an area in which languages such as C++ are far more flexible.

[PvtCupcakes]

Because bozos use VB.

[Lord Fear]

The only problem I have with VB is it's syntax. It doesn't use the C syntax. But aside from that there is nothing really wrong with it. Everything that can be done in C# can also be done in VB and vice versa thanks to the .NET Framework.

[Master117]

I am by no means an expert, but this is pretty much what I picked up on when I told other programmers that I self-taught myself VB when I was 12. They looked at me like I was dumb and asked why I didn't learn a language that actually had a future.

VB is good for some things but not good for others. You can make a database program like an absolute boss using it, but it's not that great at doing other things, like let's say a complex 3D video game. I have seen some 3d game engines in VB, but the code nor outcome are very pretty to say the least.

Other languages, like C are more flexible in terms of what can be done with it, i.e. you can make either a database or a complex 3D video game and is more compatible with different processes and computer systems.

I personally liked VB when I used it. I never did anything big with it. Never had a need to. I mainly stuck with small programs that automated a bunch simple functions, along with a game or two.
One program I made was something that hid in the background and measured how far you moved your mouse in actual measurable distances, i.e. inches, kilometers, etc. It was a huge pain in the ass to do, since no one really knew how to get mouse movement data to the program while it was running in the background. It took a lot of trial and error with different scripts I hacked together.

[Darwin226]

Actually, since VB runs on .NET now. You can make anything you can with C# (some features are not available).
The language itself really doesn't limit you in any way except for it's syntax which most people hate.

[Master117]

[QUOTE=Darwin226;30504984]Actually, since VB runs on .NET now. You can make anything you can with C# (some features are not available).
The language itself really doesn't limit you in any way except for it's syntax which most people hate.[/QUOTE]

I would agree that the syntax is a bit strange now that it's .net, however back when the compiler was VB6, the syntax was actually a bit different and easier to understand.

[zedpenguin]

[QUOTE=robmaister12;30491412]It's not that big a deal, C# just feels more natural to me than VB, and I feel that a lot of people here would agree with that (or that C, C++, Java, etc. do)

What you code in is your choice, while we can present arguments as to why one language is better than another, we can't force you to switch languages. If you feel you can write [del]GUI interfaces to track the killer's IP[/del] small widget-like programs in VB more efficiently than in any other programming language, then by all means, continue writing in VB.[/QUOTE]

I wasn't being sarcastic or anything i was actully just curious as to why people think vb is shit, I was expecting a much [i]smaller[/i] answer and was thanking you for your input.

[Gook Nukem]

[QUOTE=Darwin226;30504984]Actually, since VB runs on .NET now. You can make anything you can with C# (some features are not available).
The language itself really doesn't limit you in any way except for it's syntax which most people hate.[/QUOTE]IMO it's a dumbed down language, but in a good way.

[simssi]

[QUOTE=Quark:;30505741]IMO it's a dumbed down language, but in a good way.[/QUOTE]

Not really dumbed down, it's as high level as C#. Syntax is pretty weird though, but it may be easier than any C-styled language for some people.

[Gook Nukem]

I mean dumbed down as in generally easier. There are tons of 10-year-olds' on Youtube offering VB.NET tutorials on super elite virus scanners, but only a few dozen 10-year-olds' on Youtube offering C# super elite virus scanners, for example.

[cdlink14]

I've always thought of VB being best for creating GUI based front ends.

Also in my opinion VB is far too easy to learn. Hence there's quite a lot of idiots who use it at a very basic level (no pun intended).

C++ in my opinion requires a lot more effort, and determination to learn efficiently. Hence C++ programmers are viewed at an higher standard.

I'm not sure on other languages as C++ and VB are all I know. So if there's any flaws in my opinions, feel free to point them out.

[simssi]

[QUOTE=Quark:;30506281]I mean dumbed down as in generally easier. There are tons of 10-year-olds' on Youtube offering VB.NET tutorials on super elite virus scanners, but only a few dozen 10-year-olds' on Youtube offering C# super elite virus scanners, for example.[/QUOTE]

The reason may be that VB.NET is taught at school more often C#. For me, VB.NET doesn't seem to be any easier than C#, sometimes it's even more complicated.

[Gook Nukem]

I don't think VB.NET is taught to 5th graders, though (which is the majority of the userbase on Youtube).

[stabbykat]

[quote]OP[/quote]
Because C# exists...

[Gook Nukem]

Visual Basic is fine to learn if you aren't a hardcore programmer.

[Gook Nukem]

hardcore programmers [img]http://gyazo.com/9266348e0f41b5a7ef3eef4611e9a311.png[/img]

what i broke my own automerge

[Fuyukai]

I love VB. Okay, Form2.Show then Me.Close is a bit ugly, but as long as it works, eh?