If I write a computer program using VB for example. Do I have to pay Microsoft a royalty?

Question

I'm looking at writing a program in Python or Java, but do I have to pay the parent company some sort of fee assuming it's commercialware? What if it wasn't commercial-ware... Is there still a fee?

Answer 1

if you buy the vb compiler (not the academic version or student version) then you wouldn't need to.



python is free

java is free.



My own personal experience:

If you have an background in programming and don't want to get your hands dirty (ie know how windows works and want to stick to the windows OS) go with DELPHI, or borland C++ (prior to version 5).

However if you do want to know how windows works then go with the microsoft products. VC++ is great if you really want to get into the depths of programming. VB is good if you don't want to deal with null pointers and the like, or if you aren't as strong at programming.

Get a full developer suite of whichever compiler you purchase. Make sure you purchase sufficient MSDN. Back in the day I used to purchase VIP support from Borland and paid for the full MSDN from Microsoft. However once you learn the APIs it starts to get repetitious.

Also VC++ (maybe vb) is supported on the pocket pc.



You will also need to purchase a professional installer package if you want to do it right as well.



Lastly you might need software from numega such as softice...



2nd round:

the cnn article you cited is 10 years old. the current java sdk is now 1.6 and is free. if you are going to use java (its not the easiest language to learn), then you should get a good editor such as eclipse (free) or jedit (not free). I have both.

Your fee to microsoft is upfront: you're buying their compiler. you pay no royalties on any programs you write. You will need to purchase a compiler on each computer you want the compiler installed, unless you arrange other licensing options. You would have to wheel & deal with microsoft for that.



However if you wish to get the 'windows logo' you will need to have your program pass their test and there is a fee associated with that, but its a one time fee, provided the program passes the test. I've been through that and received the logo.

python is used by google (sponsors of pycon) and other companies that are in the know. you can teach yourself the language in about a week. It's powerful, yet dangerous (sort of like vb).

other notes:

java is cross platform without having to do anything special on your part, if you write your code correctly. python is crossplatform. VB is easily embedded into ms apps.

Answer 2

I would strongly suggest using VB, simply because both Access and Excel are Microsoft products, and there are several libraries included with VB (.Net anyway) that allow for fairly easy linking to both the Access and Excel object models. If you know Java, you should be able to pick up VB quite quickly. It is more literal than Java, more wordy, and if anything, easier to program in. You might also consider putting the code directly in Access, in the VBA behind the forms and reports. Most often, in industry, that is the method I have seen used for working between Excel and Access. By the way - if you are having to login to the db every time you access the linked tables, it sounds like they may have been linked without the "remember password" box checked. When setting up the linked tables, there is screen that comes up when setting the ODBC connection that has a small checkbox in the bottom left side that says "remember password" or something like that. If you go back through the process, and check that box, you shouln't have to login every time. I experienced the same problem, and found it easier to spend the time recreating the links than to have to login every time. Good luck - if you need any assistance, I'd be glad to help : )

Answer 3

Well, i think that you don't have to pay any royalties when using the paid editions. Like for example, the VB 2008 ENTERPRISE, which is a paid version of Microsoft Visual Basic you don't have to pay royalties as you pay everything by BUYING the software. I am not sure about the free editions though.