VB/VB.NET

VB (Visual Basic) was invented by Microsoft as a means of allowing developers familiar with the BASIC programming language to write applications for PCs running Microsoft Windows. Before the advent of VB, fundamental Windows programming tasks, such as capturing a mouse click, would typically demand some knowledge of C and a lot of hard work. In VB, there is usually no programming effort involved in capturing mouse or keyboard events, because each event has a pre-defined function template.

The fact that VB made programming for Windows more accessible helped VB to become one of the most popular languages of the 1990's. During that time it evolved to the point at which it could be used to write components as well as applications. A new version of VB, that is not backwards compatible with earlier versions, has been included in Microsoft's .NET programming suite.

Related links on developingskills.com

A "Browse For Folder" dialog box component

A VB.NET wrapper for some of the functionality of the "Browse For Folder" dialog box provided by shell32.dll.

Related links on the internet

MSDN Online

Microsoft's repository of development knowledge. A vast library coupled with a large downloads section featuring many free products.

ASP.NET Downloads Section

Here you can download the latest version of ASP.NET to enable your IIS server to support Microsoft's latest server side scripting solution. Or, if you're really in a party mood, why not download the latest .NET Framework SDK and start developing fully fledged ASP and Windows applications using the command line compilers for VB.NET or C# and the graphical debugger for the common language runtime (CLR).

VBnet Developer's Resource Centre

Many examples of how the Windows API can be used to make Visual Basic applications perform way beyond their usual confines. Contains categorised FAQ and HowTo sections.

VB Accelerator

As it says, "a site devoted to providing free, advanced source code to Visual Basic programmers". Lots of fiendishly clever ways to improve the look and feel of your Visual Basic applications.

Script Search

A large collection of applets, code snippets and assorted widgets written in languages such as Java, JavaScript, Perl, Python, VB, XML, PHP and others. Each item is rated.

C# Corner

Good .NET information site with articles and tutorials covering mainly the C# language, but also touching on VB.NET, J# and aspects of ASP.NET.

SharpDevelop

A free, open source, editor for C# and VB.NET. Requires the Microsoft .NET framework to run, which can be downloaded here.