Visual Studio 2012 (Nerd Thread)

[Tonks4x4]

Hi chaps, I need a point in the right direction....

Does anyone program in VB in Visual studio 2012?

I have a selection of programs that I have written over the years in VB6 they all access Microsoft Access databases.

Most of this stuff I need to revamp to be able to use it on the latest Window platforms.

I have been trying to update the old stuff to use later style functions in VS2012 but I feel like I am banging my head against the wall as they appear to got rid of most of the database control stuff I used to use.

So my question is....

What is the best language to write stuff in to be a little more future proof
and
What is the best type of database am I to use as it appears access is well outdated and may soon not be supported.

please help any I have been out of this stuff for 11 years

[Dan]

What is the best language to write stuff in to be a little more future proof

C# is the cannon language of .NET and it's well worth learning.

On the other hand, if you want to jump straight in and use your existing knowledge of VB, VB.NET should be an easier transition for you.

The .NET framework is exactly the same for both and they both compile to the same intermediary code. In theory you can even write something in VB.NET, compile it, and then decompile it into C# (although you would have comment-free, nasty, machine-generated C#).

Point is, either of the two are pretty future-proof. I prefer C#, but you might want to stick to what you know.

What is the best type of database am I to use as it appears access is well outdated and may soon not be supported.

As far as I know, Access is still used where the database is local to the installed machine, rather than a remote database server.

On the other hand, .NET now has bindings for open source databases like MySQL or SQLITE. SQLITE is a great choice for a local database.

Since database connections are all abstracted through ADO.NET anyway, it's not the end of the world if you have to change database systems later anyway.

[Tonks4x4]

Thanks Dan,
So a latest copy of office for Access should be ok to upgrade my database.

Then learn VB.net, I have not even got a clue now what the .net is all about????

I went from C++ to vb about 15 years ago so will stick with VB.

And ADO controls is what I want to be using now instead of ODBC, ADODC etc?

[Dan]

Thanks Dan,
So a latest copy of office for Access should be ok to upgrade my database.

Then learn VB.net, I have not even got a clue now what the .net is all about????

I went from C++ to vb about 15 years ago so will stick with VB.

And ADO controls is what I want to be using now instead of ODBC, ADODC etc?

I'd check on the access thing. Not 100% sure about future support. Andy (Sonic) might know.

Basically everything now in terms of Microsoft languages runs on the .NET platform and framework. There are a whole host of languages that work with it, but the main ones are VB.NET and C#. VB.NET is pretty much an attempt to port the old VB language into .NET.

If that doesn't make sense then just start learning VB.NET and you'll see how it differs from old VB.

And yeah, ADO is what goes between your code and your database. All ADO bindings have to comply with the same interface, so you can pretty much write code for MS-SQL and then decide to change to PGSQL just by referencing the PGSQL class instead of the MS-SQL class. If that makes any sense.

[prj]

Probably a better idea to go to C# rather than VB.NET.
I will explain why...

Managed C++ (kill it with fire), C# and VB.NET actually run on the same CLR (Common Language Runtime).
This means that their API is the same. Most of the time you just end up calling some .NET framework API things, and it's pretty much identical code.

C# I'd say has a bit more of syntactic sugar and newer language features. In the grand scheme of things, the biggest change will be the entire .NET stuff, might as well learn a more modern language as well.
Though if you are very much used to VB, don't really care too much about learning all this new stuff and want to focus on just getting things done (which I can understand), then VB.NET will be a more natural transition for you.

The coding is very different though. All the GUI stuff has evolved quite a bit and it has a completely different API compared to the old VB6 days. So most of the API familiarity will go down the drain anyway.

[nicka90q]

I would say Java platform with mysql data base.Both of them are freeware programs, java has a great number of plugins for almost everything you need.
Mysql database is better than MS Access because it can easily handle great number of tables and rows. Java can also run at all platforms PC, Linux, Ios, android, etc.
Syntax wise is very similar to c#.
If you have any other questions about java and mysql ask.
Almost forgot that java supports driver connection for MS Access database
Best regards.

[prj]

The most important question is - what kind of stuff do you want to do?
What kind of things are you looking to change?

Things have evolved so much, that it might be simpler to go to LAMP stack and use the browser as your interface than use VB.NET and so on.

[Tonks4x4]

Ok the application I have written is my main stock control/invoicing system which is tailored to my needs more than anything else that was/is on the market.

Functions include
Stock code, description, qty, re order level, bill of materials, stock cross reference information, locations, profit information, markup information, a stock item image, costings from several suppliers, automated reorder from suppliers, invoicing, quotations, customer details, customer vehicle details, service interval information.
Facilities to be able to automatically update online web shop direct from my app, mail shot to customer database facility, direct feed into sage for accounting
And I am sure there is more stuff I have forgotten.

I have spent a good 12 hours finding my way round vb.net today

I might have a look at the C#.net tomorrow as its massively different anyway from VB6

Is it just me or is the functionality of all the new stuff a massive backward step on how everything functions????

[Dan]

There are a lot of awesome things about the .NET languages, but it'll just take some getting used to.

[nicka90q]

Functionality of the new staff is massive improved.
One example if you use a array data structure in java, virtual machine is optimized in such a way that you don't have to implement it.
Virtual machine in background takes care of memory leaks and everything else.
Java has a great number of classes that are implemented, also it is object-oriented programming so it allows you to easily present problem through code.
I agree with prj that you need to chose infrastructure for what you need.
If you are not a programmer and you have difficulty with data types and data structures use php or a similar language.
It is easy to learn and it can update database and web page.

Best regards.

[prj]

Functionality of the new staff is massive improved.
One example if you use a array data structure in java, virtual machine is optimized in such a way that you don't have to implement it.
Virtual machine in background takes care of memory leaks and everything else.
Java has a great number of classes that are implemented, also it is object-oriented programming so it allows you to easily present problem through code.
I agree with prj that you need to chose infrastructure for what you need.
If you are not a programmer and you have difficulty with data types and data structures use php or a similar language.
It is easy to learn and it can update database and web page.

Best regards.

Sorry, but nothing you say makes much sense in the context of this thread.
He already has coded VB6, I am not sure why you assume he is a complete tool, when it is clear he already knows how to program and write about basics that have not much to do with the topic at hand.

If he is used to Microsoft and Visual Studio, then let him use Microsoft and Visual Studio, and forget about Java for now.

[nicka90q]

@prj Logic for writing code is the same in every program language only syntax differs. If he knows basic of programming than all he needs to learn the new syntax. He also asked about future of app that he would code so my intention was to recommend him Java.
Since it has a long history and it is updated regularly. With that in mind it is clear that he would not need to change source code of new app in the futture.
He can use any other programming language that he wants. If he is using .net framework for buttons and other app parts than it is easier to go to c#.
I have written my post in context that he does not have much experiences in coding since VB is procedural orientated.
He will decide if my post is relevance to his question or not and you can stop trolling.
My part is to offer advice on the subject and my good will to do so.
It seems that you can be criticized for doing so for no apparent reason.

@Tonks4x4 syntax wise it is different but you can still use procedural programming with ease. As Java C# is object-oriented language so you can use that part if you want to. It will work fine if you code your app in procedures.
C# has drivers to all popular types of databases so you won't have a problem connecting to your old Access database.
Thing you have to check is if you are using freeware edition of c# are all library's included.
I was suggesting Java and connection to Access database because Java is free and you don't need to buy licence.
If you are professorial programmer and you are using Visual Studio to the fullest than buy licence and write code in C#.

Best regards.

[prj]

@prj Logic for writing code is the same in every program language only syntax differs. If he knows basic of programming than all he needs to learn the new syntax. He also asked about future of app that he would code so my intention was to recommend him Java.
Since it has a long history and it is updated regularly. With that in mind it is clear that he would not need to change source code of new app in the futture.
He can use any other programming language that he wants. If he is using .net framework for buttons and other app parts than it is easier to go to c#.
I have written my post in context that he does not have much experiences in coding since VB is procedural orientated.
He will decide if my post is relevance to his question or not and you can stop trolling.
My part is to offer advice on the subject and my good will to do so.
It seems that you can be criticized for doing so for no apparent reason.

Trolling huh. I am a Senior Java dev FYI.
The fact that you refer to Java libraries as "plugins" already shows that you are not quite familiar with the subject...

Writing UI applications in Java compared to C# is lots of work. This coupled with the fact that OP has experience developing in a Microsoft language makes switching to a Java based stack a really bad idea.

[nicka90q]

@prj I'm junior developer in Java. I could use any other word if you can understand me than it is all good. Since it was very late when I posted my concentration level was very low.
I agree that if he is using .net framework for app creating he can use some parts if not all for new version of app that is written in C#.
He needs to check what he needs to change in his app build.
Level of my knowledge can't be measured with one word. I have great deal of experience. My job is creating new features for consumer app, code re-factoring and bug solving.

[Sonic]

Do it in PHP

Serious answer: If you're re-writing from scratch then use c# as Dmitri says, alternatively update to VB.net if you're more familiar with the syntax, but i expect it will be a lot of work just to update it.

On the database side you'll want to use MSSQL Server, or more accurately SQL Express for what you require. It doesn't matter whether you use VB or C#, integration will be similar and ultimately the same as prj explained with the CLR.