How easy is it to learn Visual Basic or C# and which is best?

Question

I need to learn one of these languages, and was wondering which is best to learn and how I can learn it quickly.

Thanks

Answer 1

There was a big difference between VB 6.0 and C++, but the difference between VB .NET and C# is negligible. VB 6.0 was a completely different language with different libraries when you compare it to C++. Now, VB .NET and C# are essentially layers on top of Common Intermediate Language (CIL aka MSIL). That being said, the .NET languages use the same libraries and the only difference is "syntactical sugar" (see the comparison link below).



That's my quick intro...now on to answering your questions...



I don't think that one is easier to learn than the other, but if you learn one you should be able to learn the other in under and hour (not the same claim can be made with VB 6.0 vs C++).



For marketability, the simple thing to do is run a quick search on a job board and see which keyword pulls up the best jobs. I think you'll find that C# pulls up more jobs than VB .NET. However, if you understand both anyway it won't matter.



I use and teach C# 99.999% of the time, but I have the occasional client that prefers VB .NET, and trust me - the switch is incredibly easy to do.



The link below is a VB .NET vs C# comparison. You'll notice that the comparison chart is just syntax - not architecture, functionality, libraries, platform, extensibility, etc.

Answer 2

I'd go with C# because the syntax is very similar to Java, C, and C++. Once you've learned C#, learning other C like syntax languages will be much easier. Visual Basic has a unique syntax that is different than most other languages.



There are several tutorials on the Internet that will get you started with C# basics. However, becoming proficient in any language is not something that can really be done quickly. It's not hard to learn the core language, but becoming proficient with the APIs for networking, graphics, etc., it something that will only come with lots of use.

Answer 3

well if you have to learn either of them learn C# since it is much easier to learn mainly because of the fact that there are way more tutorials on C# than visual basic. and the syntax in visual basic is really ugly. If you look here http://www.harding.edu/fmccown/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html you will see just how ugly visual basic really is.

Answer 4

Both are easy but per Microsoft VB is slightly easier than C#. If you are looking todo web programming I would recommend starting with C#



If you want to do Windows programming and writting macros for MS Office (Excel) then learn VB

Answer 5

Visual Basic has been around longer and thus is more likely to survive, so it would probably be the better choice. I also think it's easier to learn for a complete beginner.

Answer 6

VB.NET and C# have very similar capabilities.



I prefer VB.NET as I think its more like English than C#. Also, I started out with Access and VB so of course VB.NET was familiar to me.



VB.NET is an excellent choice for Windows and Web applications.



Perhaps you could get started here

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/default



Videos

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/bb466226

Answer 7

How easy it is to learn them depends on how well you know programming (learning a language won't teach you programming). If you know programming well, VB is very easy. If you don't, neither one is at all easy. (Use http://www-old.oberon.ethz.ch/WirthPubl/AD.pdf to learn programming.)

Answer 8

c++ tutorials on youtube