Should I learn VB 6.0 or VB.net?

Question

I know C, DS and C++. Now I am planning to learn VB 6.0 . But I came to knew that a new version of VB 6.0 i.e VB.net is launched. So should I learn VB 6.0 first or directly go for VB.net waiting for your reply.

Answer 1

Wow, what an array of answers and all of them have some right and some wrong in it. Here is some of the real stuff.



First of all, if you learn VB 6.0 it does help you learn VB.NET. That is because they are both VB and so the syntax in one is very similiar in the other. Does that mean you should waste your time with 6.0? No not really. A beginner can jump right into VB.NET and learn that fine without 6.0. It might even be a waste of your time to learn 6.0 these days, because like one person pointed out, 6.0 is quite a bit obsolete.



Second, VB.Net is generally better for beginners than such languages as C# which are rooted in the foundations of C/C++/Visual C++. VB.net is generally more word oriented (reading its code is more like reading a book) than C# is. Again, not saying that someone can't jump straight into C# because they can like all the other languages of .NET.





Third, learning any .NET language gets your foot in the door to any other .NET language. Microsoft is in the process of merging the different languages together into one common platform with its own syntax... (the Common Language Runtime or known as the CLR).



I recommend you go VB.NET first because it is what the industry is doing now a days. VB 6.0 is only in a few companies anymore maintaining old legacy systems. Once you learn VB.NET, you can easily jump to C#, VC++.NET, ASP.NET etc.



However, if you need or want to, you can also step down to VB 6.0 and pick up fairly quickly once you learn VB.NET because the syntax is very similiar, the concepts are just a little different.



Take it from someone who has had formal training in VB.NET, VB 6.0, C/C++/VC++ and many other .net languages.



I hope this clarifies some things for you. Enjoy!

Answer 2

First of all i would like to say an excellent answer by Martyr2. You have covered all the points exceptionally well.



Yash - You can learn VB.NET or C# - your choice. Since you have experience with languages like c++ and C you should not have any problems using C# as the syntax is pretty much the same.



VB.net on the other hand has a very small learning curve.



Therefore my advice is pick any language and just go for it. Also learn .net languages and not vb6 since all future microsoft products will be created around the .net framework.



hope this helps

Answer 3

VB net, though I would do C# before that.



Depends on the way you want to go.



Internet services are the way things are going though. Pick one of those languages if you want to learn something new.



-Dio

Answer 4

they are almost the same.

VB.NET is actually VB in .NET platform.

The .NET platform ensures you a very good environment for software development.It is also a newer idea.

So you better start working with VB.NET and in the process learn VB.Go direct.



You can also learn C# which is getting very popular indeed.

Answer 5

Learn VB.NET. It is completely different than VB6, which is now nearly obsolete. Learning VB6 won't help you learn VB.NET, you will essentially be learning 2 different languages.

Answer 6

VB 6 first, it's the basic

Answer 7

There is a big difference between VB6 and VB2010. about 10 yrs worth of improvements.

Answer 8

VB.net, It has a lot more capabilities.