Visual Basic has its programming roots in a language known as Basic, but has now far exceeded the simplicity of its predecessor. Within a few short years, Visual Basic has earned itself the status of a professional programming language and is used by many programmers for the development of quality programs. Visual Basic has become part of a collection of programming tools from Microsoft called Visual Studio. The latest offering from Visual Studio is version 6.0 and has Basic Learning, Professional, and Enterprise editions. The difference in the editions are as follows:
- Visual Basic Learning Edition-As you might expect, the Learning Edition includes everything you need to get up and running. This edition provides you with the tools you need to create programs, but omits the advanced features included in the other editions.
- Visual Basic Professional Edition-Included in the Professional package are a comprehensive set of tools including, Visual FoxPro,Visual C++, Visual InterDev, and Visual J++. Further, it includes all of the features from the Learning Edition and also includes ActiveX controls, Integrated Data Tools and Data Environment, and the Dynamic HTML Page Designer.
- Visual Basic Enterprise Edition-The Visual Basic Enterprise Edition contains all of the features included in the Professional Edition and includes some additional features, such as: BackOffice tools, Internet Information Server (IIS), Systems Network Architecture (SNA) Server,Visual SourceSafe, and Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS).
Regardless of the edition used, Visual Basic provides a friendly programming environment that has become quite popular with programmers of all levels. Although easy to learn, it also provides the advanced tools, functions, and routines necessary to create programs capable of competing in the programming market. Overall,Visual Basic has become an excellent choice for both beginning and expert programmers.
Why Visual Basic?
Visual Basic offers a very friendly and familiar graphical interface, making the learning of the language a little bit easier. It has become popular for those interested in trying programming because of its graphical interface. Microsoft has accommodated the beginning programmer by supplying a learner's edition ofVisual Basic. For the novice user, this edition provides an inexpensive means to try the product. Although Visual Basic is a good product for the beginner, it provides all the tools necessary to create high-end, professional applications and programs. There is no doubt that Visual Basic is a versatile and marketable language. The following is a list of further benefits ofVisual Basic:
- Visual Basic allows the rapid development of high quality data forms, all with the ease of drag and drop.
- Visual Basic creates applications for the increasing number of mobile users. After some familiarity with the product, it is possible to write client/server applications that work with databases and are accessible to users whether they access the database from a LAN or from the Web.
- With the newly integrated Visual Database Tools, it is possible to perform common database activities without exiting Visual Basic.
- The Package and Deployment Wizard easily deploys Internet applications.
- Visual Basic allows you to secure your source code by using Microsoft Visual SourceSafe.
Those who have used Microsoft Windows will find the interface ofVisual Basic familiar and comfortable, and by using Windows they may have mastered many of the skills needed to use Visual Basic. To write programs with Visual Basic, it is not necessary to write numerous lines of code. Instead, programmers use prebuilt objects to make a program. Because of its familiarity and the relative ease in which programs are created, novice programmers are able to build a Visual Basic application in a short amount of time. Although it is easy to create programs within Visual Basic, it also has the ability and tools to be used to create highly complex programs.
Marketability
Since its inception in the early 1990s, Visual Basic has placed itself in the forefront of the programming world. It has gained popularity with both beginning programmers as well as advanced programmers.Visual Basic is a powerful language used for the development of programs from client/server applications to Web based solutions.
By surveying many online IT job sites, they reveal that a number of employers are seeking programmers skilled in Visual Basic. Many programming jobs, although not asking specifically for Visual Basic programming skills, look favorably on those candidates with Visual Basic skills. The salaries and benefit packages offered to Visual Basic developers is comparable to those of developers versed in higher profile languages.
Visual Basic has something for everyone and is constantly improving to keep pace with the demands of the IT industry.
