Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / C++ or Visual Basic?

Author
Message
Lee Stevens
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Apr 2007
Location: Deep in code...
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 04:28
Link
Hello guys
How are you today? I hope your doing well,

I have a dilemma on my hands, and I need facts and opinions and all that kind of stuff lol

Basically in September at college I did carpentry (wood work) and it's not for me so I dropped out, I'm more of a computer geek. So in September this year I hope to be doing a course more suitable for me, computer programming. But there is C++ (I think it had 2 +'s) or visual basic?
What one would you choose and why?

Thanks for helping me out in advance I appreciate it guys

Cheap HeadPhones - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220711037388&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
Back to top
Profile PM
Fatal Berserker
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Jul 2010
Location:
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 06:12 Edited at: 11th Jan 2011 06:13
Link
C++.
++ means addition (add one more) and C is another programming language. C++ was an improvement to C, and is a play-on-word.

C++ is the industry standard.

Back to top
Profile PM
PAGAN_old
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 28th Jan 2006
Location: Capital of the Evil Empire
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 07:11
Link
i did VB in school. Its definatley easier than C++ and dark GDK along with a few other game engienes (like true vision) are all compatible with VB and C++ i think dark GDK is compatible with both of them. correct me if i am wrong

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Neuro Fuzzy
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 11th Jun 2007
Location:
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 07:39
Link
definitely C++
I wouldn't necessarily advocate using C++ for game programming (alls i mean is that I have no reason to hate on other languages I've heard are more betterer), but it definitely is the industry standard, and you'll probably learn a lot.

Back to top
Profile PM Email
Van B
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 08:34
Link
It depends on what you want to end up doing. C++ is only an industry standard in some industries, like videogames - VB is much more useful in a business environment (Excel macros, Access databases etc). But, there's also Java - and C++ knowledge would be more useful if you have to end up learning that too. Think about the sort of job you want at the end of it, and be realistic. A years worth of VB is more useful than a years worth of C++ in finding a job - there's simply more jobs in the business sector, and they are easier to get as well.

Health, Ammo, and bacon and eggs!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
PAGAN_old
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 28th Jan 2006
Location: Capital of the Evil Empire
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 12:49
Link
i agree with van B there, my friends mom who is a programmer, says VB is used often but at her place mostly for quick rough draft sketchups of program and program components. I did VB and i realised that the business sector of programming is just like VB: = Very Boaring. i actually suck at programming, my only motivation is if i am trying to write a piece of a game which is not fun, but once i get something to work in a 3d game it just feels so satisfying. i dont get the same satisfaction from writing a business accounting, bank interest calculatior which is most of what i did in VB in school. I did make a few simple games in vb and that was more fun than a savings account interest growth calculatior. Just cant imagine what programmers who write thise derivetives for the stock market have to go trough. poor guys

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
Back to top
Profile PM Email
AutoBot
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Sep 2009
Location: Everywhere
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 17:35
Link
I always like to think of C++ as one of the origins of programming; so many other languages are related to it (Java, C#, VB, the list goes on). So far I've been teaching C++ to myself (online sources, books, etc), and I haven't been sorry yet. If you learn C++, in the end you probably won't regret it as it'll be easier to pick up on the other languages.

But don't get me wrong - C++ may not be the standard of everything, and Van B made a good point there, but it is definately a good starting point if you can step up to it.


Back to top
Profile PM Email
Jeku
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jul 2003
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 20:03
Link
Quote: "A years worth of VB is more useful than a years worth of C++ in finding a job - there's simply more jobs in the business sector, and they are easier to get as well."


Hmm interesting. I've never seen a job description requiring VB. Maybe it depends on the country? They all require C++ or Java seemingly.


Senior Web Developer - Nokia
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Diggsey
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Apr 2006
Location: On this web page.
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 20:20
Link
If you're new to programming, I recommend VB rather than C++. C++ is more powerful, and the industry standard as people have said, but it's not much use having a more powerful language if you give up when trying to learn it.

With VB, you don't have the extra difficulty of a separate linker and compiler, and VB isn't as sensitive to the compiler settings. These are both things that you really don't want to have to worry about when learning to program.

Finally, if you want to make programs with a GUI, VB has a designer you can use to easily layout your GUI elements, and the designer generates code so you can still see exactly what's going on. VB uses the .net framework for all the standard functions you need, including the GUI, whereas for C++ you will need to learn about the C standard library, the C++ standard template library, and the windows API, each of which is a massive collection of functions and types which are not nearly as simple to learn as the .net framework.

Even if you definitely want to learn C++, which I think is a good idea, if you've grasped the basics of programming in VB first, you can learn all the stuff I mentioned above more easily, since most of it is taught using code examples, which will make no sense to you if you don't understand anything about programming.

[b]
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Van B
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 21:38
Link
It depends on the job Jeku, he's not studying for a degree - with knowledge of VB it puts people in a good position for office related jobs. Every single office worker at my work uses Excel and Access, none of them can code (apart from one guy, who doesn't), not even Excel macros. There are still good prospects for people who can optimise and develop systems quickly. Quick and cheap is the order of the day in the UK. A lot of positions look for SQL experience, and there's no easier way to properly learn SQL than with Access and VBA.

Health, Ammo, and bacon and eggs!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Lee Stevens
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Apr 2007
Location: Deep in code...
Posted: 11th Jan 2011 22:38
Link
Thanks for all the help guys.

I want to learn to computer programme to write software/video games, I should of mentioned that earlier.

Anyways, C++ sounds like the best choice for me, in all honestly I was going to decide what one I did by flipping a coin lol good thing I got some professional opinions

They both sound very usual but they sound very specific but and very similar

Cheap HeadPhones - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220711037388&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
Back to top
Profile PM
AutoBot
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Sep 2009
Location: Everywhere
Posted: 12th Jan 2011 03:46 Edited at: 12th Jan 2011 03:47
Link
I actually should've mentioned that VB is a good stepping stone before learning the harder languages, like Diggsey said; so you could also take a breif look at VB before getting into your C++ courses. I remember I monkeyed around with VB for a little while before looking at C++ (helped me to get a good starting glance of it all).


Back to top
Profile PM Email
PAGAN_old
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 28th Jan 2006
Location: Capital of the Evil Empire
Posted: 12th Jan 2011 04:48
Link
Quote: "I actually should've mentioned that VB is a good stepping stone before learning the harder languages, like Diggsey said; so you could also take a breif look at VB before getting into your C++ courses. I remember I monkeyed around with VB for a little while before looking at C++ (helped me to get a good starting glance of it all).
"

he is right you know

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Dark Java Dude 64
Community Leader
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Sep 2010
Location: Neither here nor there nor anywhere
Posted: 12th Jan 2011 06:37
Link
A while back, i tried learning c++, and gave up, and now two large languages later, im trying again and finding it very understandable. So go with learning another easier lang first, then move to c++. I dont have any knowledge of programming in VB

Back to top
Profile PM Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2025-05-22 15:35:51
Your offset time is: 2025-05-22 15:35:51