Re: How much of it changed?
Quote:
So my question basically is, is there a major difference between VB6 and VB.Net? Are what I am learning about in VB6 useless in VB.Net?
Hi Tyger Claw!
Just some thoughts...
I have developed with VB6 between 1999 and 2002, I even have an MS certification for desktop apps with VB6. Since 2002 I began developing with .Net.
Usually, I like using the latest tools for everything, and for that matter, I tend to use the newest things available on the market.
That aside, I would recommend you to focus your studies in .Net development.
With VB6 you can:
- Create COM components easily.
- Build desktop applications rapidly.
- The learning curve is probably shorter than with .Net.
- You have a bunch of UI controls available on the net which are easy to use.
- 'Edit and continue' while debugging desktop apps.
However is not easy to:
- Create distributed apps.
- Build and debug web apps.
Well, with .Net I may say the following:
- You can create reusable components easily.
- It is _very_ easy and fast to create web apps.
- It is truly OOP compliant.
- It's easy to create distributed apps.
- You have typed datasets.
- You may use ADO.Net which is the new object model for data access.
- You have a security model, and you may use CAS (Code access security)
- You may develop web services.
Basically, it is VERY different. It is not just a new version. They re wrote the whole thing from scratch. Also when you are writing programs with VB.Net you are using the .Net framework, so if you later decide to switch to (lets say) C#, it shouldn't be that hard because you will be using the same framework.
I wouldn't say that you are wasting time with VB6, because I believe that knowledge is good. However, if I were you, I would start taking a look at VB.Net.
Recently they launched the new version of .Net (Visual Studio 2005, with Framework 2.0).
Also, you have to consider that the market is (mostly) not considering VB6 for new projects. I mean, you may find requirements for VB6 developers, but they are mostly for maintaining old apps. Generally, new developments are carried out with the latest languages.
Just my view, I hope this helps.
Cheers!