I believe that VB is part of C#. I remember one of the features was that you could use both in one program, so you could do speed critical stuff in C++ and everything else in VB or however you prefered.

Give VB a try, once you learn how to use DirectX to its full potential, you'll never switch back =) (not guaranteed =)

EDIT: I don't think MS have any intentions of phasing VB out, after all, why have they suddenly started making DX VB compatible?
I think there are so many people who know absolutely nothing about VB as it is now (I don't think any of them have posted here, so I'm not having a go at any of you) there are still people saying that it is interpreted and that it needs lots of dlls and stuff, those people are the ones who annoy me.
Then there is the whole argument that C++ is more powerful than VB. I really don't see how this works, but I'm open to suggestions as I know that my C++ knowledge is really low. What can C++ do that VB can't? I know VB can't bitshift, but it can multiply, so it is slower, but it can still do it.
Pointers? I don't see the.... point (no pun intendid). What can you do with pointers that I can't do in VB? There are also object references in VB, which are almost identical to pointers, except I can't get them to point to variables, only to classes.

So maybe someone will prove me wrong, and maybe I'll be flamed. I don't care, I'll listen and answer questions if necessary.

So my question to you is a reversal of the original question:

If anyone can give me 10 good reasons why C++ is better than VB I might give it a try.

Actually, what about the idea of combining the two, I know a lot of people do this, writing the glue of the program in VB, then calling C++ dlls for speed critical stuff?



Trying is the first step towards failure.

Edited by - ragonastick on November 18, 2000 11:09:39 PM

Pointers? I don''t see the.... point (no pun intendid). What can you do with pointers that I can''t do in VB? There are also object references in VB, which are almost identical to pointers, except I can''t get them to point to variables, only to classes.
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First of all, pointers are nothing like object references.

Pointers make dynamic data structures, strings in C, and alot of other very powerful stuff. If you don''t see the point of pointers, learn C and see why pointers rule, or don''t complain when someone says VB sucks becuase it doesnt have pointers.

-----------------------------

A wise man once said "A person with half a clue is more dangerous than a person with or without one."

The Micro$haft BSOD T-Shirt

Sorry, excuse my ignorance (sorry if this comes out sounding smarmy, but I know I am ignorant, so take it literally)

quote:
First of all, pointers are nothing like object references.

Pointers make dynamic data structures, strings in C, and alot of other very powerful stuff. If you don''t see the point of pointers, learn C and see why pointers rule, or don''t complain when someone says VB sucks becuase it doesnt have pointers.

Object references point to an area of memory I believe, as do pointers?

A dynamic data structure? Do you mean one where you can have all sorts of types in a structure? Like Integers, Longs and Chars? Well, I can do that using object references in VB. But again, maybe I''m missing the point again.

Corrections?



Trying is the first step towards failure.

quote: Original post by ragonastick

Object references point to an area of memory I believe, as do pointers?

A dynamic data structure? Do you mean one where you can have all sorts of types in a structure? Like Integers, Longs and Chars? Well, I can do that using object references in VB. But again, maybe I''m missing the point again.

Corrections?

Pointers in C++ are commonly used to do dynamic memory allocation. As in, creating new objects on the fly as needed. This way you always have enough room for whatever you''re working with and can continuously adapt, not to mention you can arrage the data in the best possible order for searching''s sake. They''re used for various data structures such as linked lists, binary trees, etc and often make it very easy to insert/delete/search for data in a very efficient way.
As far as I know, these types of things are impossible in VB, though I''m only beginning to learn VB so I may be wrong.

Well, that about sums it up. Revolver for example, thinks VB is great and such support VB so everyone use Pascal and COBOL and live free! and communist because pointers lead to president Gore...say what?

"what"

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Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell your...don''t tell your family. The GDTalker

This may be a little off-topic, but I think that anyone who cares about programming w/ RAD tools in a powerful language will use Delphi

"You see, Lone Star, Evil will always triumph because Good is dum !" - Space Balls

"Please Wait While Loading User" - Windows 98 Operating System

Ähm.. I''m programming our Leveleditor right now with C++/MFC..
I don''t know Visual Basic... So, should I have learned Visual Basic just to do the Leveleditor? I don''t think so... I love C/C++ and well, I don''t love MFC but it''s ok... ;o) *G*

Just my opinion..
cya,
Phil

Visit Rarebyte!
and no!, there are NO kangaroos in Austria (I got this questions a few times over in the states

quote:
As far as I know, these types of things are impossible in VB, though I''m only beginning to learn VB so I may be wrong.

You are wrong. There are a few ways to do pointers in VB. And a plenthora of other things that elitists, crap for brians (I won''t call them C/C++ programmers since I also used it), programmers not worth a damn, don''t know about or how to do cross-language.

This boils down to the mere fact that those who complain about a language are not and will never be true programmers. Programmers don''t care if they have to punch cards by hand to make all those 1''s and 0''s appear, feeding them slowly into a 10 foot by 10 foot tin box, only to add 2+2. The point is the zen of programming.

Only cry babies not worth spit, bitch about C++ being better than VB being better than Qbasic, being better than.... ad nausea.

For all their pain I suggest they go and learn about some of the really powerful languages, Haskell, LISP, ProLog... now there is a damn good language. But better than VB? Who cares. I can still control what I need to control when I need to control it with whatever damn toolset I am given.

You think because C/C++ has become a standard in College for the last ten years it is the de facto?

Get a grip. I challange anyone to come up with some problem that they think can not be solved in VB and C++, side by side. I would bet dollars to donuts, upon my 15 years worth of programming experience, anyone programmer worth a damn can do it in both languages just as easily.

Complainers need to get over it. This is a community site, get with the community, enough bullshit bickering about who''s got a bigger dick around here. No one cares. They ask questions to have answers, not pissing contests.



"Five passengers set sail that day, for a three hour tour, a three hour tour...."

OK, just for kicks, here''s my $.02:

I spent about 6 years programming VB business apps before getting into the industry. How did I get in? Partly due to a VB game I was working on. Yes, a VB game! Of course I know C++, and you won''t get a job in the industry doing anything but tools if you don''t know it. The first thing I wrote after getting in was a map editor in VB. Another thing I did was a scenario editor written in VB for another game. If I''m not mistaken (someone correct me if I''m wrong) I believe I read that a version of UnrealEd was written in VB. Hmm, something to think about there.

As for speed differences - VB is slightly slower in some areas, slightly faster in others. Don''t try to tell me otherwise unless you''ve done the testing yourself, you''ll just make yourself look more stupid than you obviously already are. If you want to write a small 2D game in VB, go ahead. You won''t have any problem with speed on most systems that are out there. I''ve even seen decent 3D engines in VB, although you won''t be seeing Unreal2 written in VB. :>

Development time - VC++ (or probably any other compiler) can''t stand up to the ease and speed of developing a Windows app in VB. Again, don''t try to tell me otherwise - I''ve done both. Need a new window? Just a double click away, no code needed. Try that in VC++. Whoever it was that posted that setting properties makes development slower obviously hasn''t used VB that much. I wouldn''t trust him to write anything for me in C++ either with that attitude. That makes VB great for developing tools in the industry if people would get off their "C++ Is God" soapboxes. Of course, let them use C++. I''ll use VB and get more stuff written quicker. I have yet to find something I couldn''t write using VB. If someone can show me something (other than the aforementioned Unreal2 or similar) I''ll retract that, but I doubt I''ll have to.

What''s this boil down to - I love VB and C++ (although MFC is irritating me a little right now :>) and will use whatever gets the job done the best. If you want a job in the industry learn C++. If you have a VB game to demo though chances are it won''t hurt. If you''re planning on doing stuff on the side and it''s relatively small, use VB if you want. You won''t be disappointed.

Breakaway Games

In borland c++ builder adding a new window is just as easy as in vb. Just add it, include the header and hit run.

The thing I hate about in vb is that code tend to be unstructured, at least when I am programming it, but I may be a bad vb programmer. I know this because I have to use vb, at work, when developing in access.

Well, I actually had a choice when I started, as I am programming an invoice system for a small company. But when they did not have ms office, only an old version of claris works, we decided to go for office. Now when thinking of it afterwards I feel I would have got the work much faster done using borland c++ builder, with it''s database capabilities. I also think that vb''s dialog editor sucks, borlands is much better, but then again it may be different in the real version of vb.