Elysian Shadows

I'm not going to give you a huge background story, i've been programming in Vb for about a year, and I was wondering if I should just skip it and move to c++, of course I havn't mastered vb, but I just wanted to know if I was wasting my time.

No need to master a BASIC language first. As long as you're familiar with how programming works it's served its purpose and you can switch. The only real reason for swapping is that basic languages don't have the power of some other languages. However! If you're looking to get something out fast, they're the place to go. So you're not necessarily wasting your time, no, but you are a bit limited.

MarauderIIC wrote:No need to master a BASIC language first. As long as you're familiar with how programming works it's served its purpose and you can switch. The only real reason for swapping is that basic languages don't have the power of some other languages. However! If you're looking to get something out fast, they're the place to go. So you're not necessarily wasting your time, no, but you are a bit limited.

The funny thing is... I went from mostly-forgotten HTML knowledge to doing some elementary Java (Maplestory private server ), then to C++... I never really learned any of the BASIC languages.

MarauderIIC wrote:No need to master a BASIC language first. As long as you're familiar with how programming works it's served its purpose and you can switch. The only real reason for swapping is that basic languages don't have the power of some other languages. However! If you're looking to get something out fast, they're the place to go. So you're not necessarily wasting your time, no, but you are a bit limited.

I'm more looking towards creating useful programs, and I know that will take a while before I can make something substantial. I think i'll go and pick up a c++ book, if anyone has any suggestions let me know. I read a post early on C or C++ and herd "Learn c++ in 21 days" and such aren't the best books, but if anyone knows any slow learning books let me know.

C++ VB C# they are all use the same stuff really... in a way...
For example...

C# VB I don't know about C++ but you get the idea...
They are a lot alike.

There's a topic about books around here somewhere. Search for it. Or it might be a sticky. I don't know.
Programming Guides & Resources sticky has some books in it.

I just have one more question, what are some good c++ compilers.

GCC(MinGW)

But you'll most likely want to get an IDE. Code::Blocks is good.

Using BASIC as an entry level language is great to master certain basic concepts of programming, there will still be a learning curve no matter what language you dive into next, but at least you'll hopefully know some of the core basics.

In my experience I went from true BASIC to C++ in HS. Didn't have much trouble keeping up with the change, but they really drilled down theory and concepts down. How do I know they stuck? I got an internship that used Java exclusively. Never touched the language, only knew about it. They brought us in, said we won't teach you syntax, only OO concepts and the rest you can use the API docs for. After a rough 2 days(huge workload, nervous, etc...) I was able to keep up with Intel programmers and pass the internship. How? By knowing the basics, as they never change. Plus, with my experience in C++ I knew enough about OO to cut the mustard. I felt rather proud of being able to pass that kind of test.

LeonBlade wrote:VB

Code: Select all

Dim sr as StreamReader = new StreamReader(source)

Yuck. God I hate VB syntax.

I had to write one VB.NET app at my last job...I spent half my time deleting the semicolons I couldn't help by type after every line.

trufun202 wrote:

LeonBlade wrote:VB

Code: Select all

Dim sr as StreamReader = new StreamReader(source)

Yuck. God I hate VB syntax.

I had to write one VB.NET app at my last job...I spent half my time deleting the semicolons I couldn't help by type after every line.

Yeah I know what you mean...
It's pretty annoying, it's all line based, I hate scripting like that...
The end line character shouldn't be new line!

trufun202 wrote:

LeonBlade wrote:VB

Code: Select all

Dim sr as StreamReader = new StreamReader(source)

Yuck. God I hate VB syntax.

I had to write one VB.NET app at my last job...I spent half my time deleting the semicolons I couldn't help by type after every line.

I had the same problem.

Good thing Lua doesn't care about the use of semi-colons

trufun202 wrote: Yuck. God I hate VB syntax.

I had to write one VB.NET app at my last job...I spent half my time deleting the semicolons I couldn't help by type after every line.

After coming home from school sometimes I'll be typing ' in front of text to comment it instead of //. The fact that in VB I have to comment every line individually instead of using /* */ annoys me soo much.

dandymcgee wrote:

trufun202 wrote: Yuck. God I hate VB syntax.

I had to write one VB.NET app at my last job...I spent half my time deleting the semicolons I couldn't help by type after every line.

After coming home from school sometimes I'll be typing ' in front of text to comment it instead of //. The fact that in VB I have to comment every line individually instead of using /* */ annoys me soo much.

The IDE has a button that comments out whatever you highlight... so I guess that is better then going through every line, but seriously... wtf where they thinking?

I had the same semicolon issue aswell!

And also, on VBA (which we use at college) the error checking tells you if you made an error, each time you move down a line, so if you make a single, tiny mistake (or deliberate writing of only half a statement, perhaps to check a previous statement which is out of focus ) you get this damn messagebox that states the bloody obvious, and it really annoys me

I think C++ generally makes you think more like a competant programmer, I love C++'s keywords and general syntax, it's so logical

also, in the version of VBA that i use at college, there isn't and increment operator, and that just annoys the hell out of me...