Hey, community.

This one might probably trigger some of you. But just a question that comes out of the blue: What are your thoughts on it?

I first learned programming back in the day with Visual Basic 2008. Nowadays, I can program with C#, Java, PHP and some other languages rather well (I’m no professional, though), but I often come back to Visual Basic, because I’m just so used to it. Even though it’s not that often, because I’m a Linux user.

But let’s say I need a small program for Windows real quick? VB.NET is gonna be my choice. Right now, I’m implementing a board game server + client for the game of go (also called baduk or wei’qi) and I’m making really good progress.

I personally think that people should just use what they want to use. I don’t get the hate for PHP and some other languages and I think this gate-keeping and god complex some developers have is really annoying. Makes me want to use VB.NET even harder.

I also don’t like to jump on board with every new and upcoming programming language or library, just to be cool.

I’d also like to emphasize that I’m not creating software for a living right now. I do have a small company for a little bit of freelance work, but that’s just money on the side that comes in by creating really small projects.

  • asyncrosaurus@programming.devEnglish
    1·
    2 years ago

    Ignore the weird tribalism over the languages other people prefer to use.

    Just one thing to keep in mind about VB.Net, Microsoft considers it “done”. Active development is done, yhe language won’t receive any new enhancements anymore, so all the cool new C# features (like pattern matching) will not be back ported to VB.Net.

  • crysisaverted@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    2 years ago

    I wrote a ton of vb6 in the 90s. Then vb.net 2003 in… Well that date. Then moved to c# after holding on for awhile.

    My memories of that time:

    • its higher mental load to do the right, safe thing in vb.net vs the same objective in c#.
    • both early versions of both languages had really similar capabilities, as they both compiled to the same IL code targeting the same VM.
    • these differences obviously moved apart as the years went by as the cost to innovate in 2 places is wasted effort… So language enhancements went into c#.

    These days you might as well learn pascal as vb… If you want to know where to invest your time in learning i would suggest C#, java or golang for backend. Or typescript. Typescript is good.

    • Netto Hikari@social.fossware.spaceOPEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      I can use both VB.NET syntax and also C# syntax just fine. I’d even go as far and state that, apart from the syntax, VB.NET is just as good as C# (after some settings adjustments, like Option Strict On, etc.).

      I do understand that Visual Basic syntax is kinda alien, though.

      • einsteinx2@programming.devEnglish
        01·
        2 years ago

        I feel like you just answered your own question of why people don’t like VB.NET and prefer C#. Per your own words you have two languages that are “just as good” except one of them needs settings adjustments or it’s not as good, and also has “alien” syntax which makes it harder for other developers to work on the code and makes it harder for you to move to other C-style languages (basically every currently popular language).

        So if at best they’re “just as good”, then the obvious choice is C# which requires no settings change and has familiar syntax. Especially so if you can work in both just fine.

        It’s not just some “god complex” thing, it’s mostly just practicality.