C++ or Visual Basic?

Hello all,

I need your valuable suggestions.
Actually, I have to choose one language to learn and will develop software using that in future. One option is to learn C++ and the other is Visual Basic.

I want you to suggest me which one should I learn? I'm really confused since I dont know what is the difference between both of them.

Another thing, when you please suggest me a language please also give atleast one reason for which you think your preferable language is better than the other.

Thank you!

If you want to become professional programmer and develop applications which are fast, require less resources, and can access System level, choose C++;

I you want to develop smaller applications quickly, but not so fast and requiring more resources, also bound to windows OS, and you have no need to access System level, choose VB.

Generally, C++ is much more powerful, than VB, but also a little difficult to learn.

And you can also learn Pascal(FreePascal, ObjectPascal/Delphi) which is between C++ and VB with its charachteristics.

And, the main thing is, you should choose programming language depending on task you have. this is golden rule.

None of the above. Choose Java.

drgroove
wrong suggestion!
client applications in java are terrible! java is very good in server-side...

Well written client applications in Java work just as well as well written client apps in C++. Ever use Eclipse?

drgroove

wrong again!
client apps which are depending on Virtual Machine just CANT BE as fast and as good as written in C++. Nothing to say, C++ produces applications with best performance at all (except assembler).

another important issua is that java is for other goals, for network programming and is not such powerful as C++!

this is just as 2X2.

I very appreciate java, and it has of course many advantages agains c++, but not in client application programming...

What little performance degredation your app experiences is a fair trade for the ability to use that same application on any operating system. I guess it depends on what kind of application you're creating, and what your expectations of it are. I'm willing to trade an almost negligible performance hit for portability any day.

Moved to Software Design

You're willing to trade that negligible performance hit, but are your customers?

I use Java a LOT, and I know exactly where you are coming from with the portability advantages. But I must agree with that NoTaBeNe fellow and say that when it comes to pleasing a customer, sometimes our own advantages/disadvantages take lesser priority than theirs.

Thank you very much all. I think I should follow the suggestion of NoTaBeNe.
NoTaBeNe I am interested in development of database related software and socket based applications development. I dont intend to develop software out of these two selections.

So keeping these two DB Applications and Socket Based Applications in mind what do you suggest me to choose? C++ or VB?

I have used VB few times and I like it but I wish to leave VB and go for C++ but the lengthy code which I have seen of few open source projects really scares me. I lack confidence that I can learn C++

Thanks once again!

Starting out learning C++ isn't going to be easy. I'd start with learning Java, since Java is basically a simplified version of C/C++, then learn C, then C++. After knowing Java, it should be pretty easy to learn C and C++. And Java isn't very hard to learn.

I agree that Java should be the first step, but why C? I mean, if you are going to do OOP programming in C++, it would make sense to learn Java and carry those OOP skills over. But C is just a procedural language...

I would put C and Java on the same level as starting points, depending on if you are doing OOP programming in C++ (learn with Java) or just procedural programming (learn with C)...

But I do agree with you that starting out in C++ is going to be difficult and some learning step should come first.

C++ is pretty similar to C. C is easier. So, you should learn C before C++. And just because C++ is newer than C, doesn't mean that it's better. Even though, it probably is (depending on what you need to do) C can be pretty useful too.

Amen

CodeGod
Both C++ and VB can DB and Sockets. But I would advice you to choose C++. Although it is not very easy for learning, but in long-term view you will get more advantages. If you choose VB, it is pretty possible you will have to change to C++ at some point, when VB's possibilities will not satisfy you anymore.

For rapid development, Borland c++ builder is good choice as IDE.