Visual Basic Coding

[CrazyLemurs]

Hi there,
Firstly let me apologise if this thread is in the wrong place, not sure where else it'd go haha.

I'm doing GCSE Computing, and I believe it's a relatively new course, and because coding is proper advanced like, we start with a really basic, foundation language: Visual Basic.
We use Microsoft Visual Basic (and we call it VB most of the time, which is also short for vBulletin, I think?) to write the code and run it, but I can't for the life of me fathom why.

I understand it's supposed to be an introduction to programming and computing in general, but what can Visual Basic be used for? It feels really limited to me, but maybe that's because we have just finished formatting dates and creating functions/sub-routines. If you know a practical application of the Visual Basic language, please help me xD!

[j0rd]

vBulletin is forum software, Visual Basic (VB.NET) is a programming language.
It was a core unit of my National Diploma in Computing, and hated it every single bit, but I guess I know basic in it.

But ye, if you need any help, drop me a PM or something.

[Chippiewill]

what can Visual Basic be used for?
Teaching. It's use as an actual programming language in the real world is non-existent.

[Recursion]

Visual Basic is great for getting started with in terms of writing Windows based applications (I still like Python better for newbies, it has far better structure and real world applications IMO), you need to understand the basics behind classes, objects, functions, loops etc before you'll be able to do anything that's half useful. The beginning might seem very repetitive, boring and like it doesn't lead anywhere, but once you get all the basics down, writing complex programs become much easier.

[CrazyLemurs]

Ah, alright. I asked my teacher what it was useful for, and he stumbled a bit haha! I'll just put up with it till A-Level maybe and we can do some more skilled work. Really just now it's working on practice controlled assessments, as we've learnt all the programming language (all the loops, selection, etc) needed for the GCSE, apparently.

[Chippiewill]

If you're getting bored of it or want something different then there's certainly nothing stopping you transferring those skills to another language now.

[CrazyLemurs]

Yeah, understanding the theory behind everything seems to be the key to what we learn, such as representing data and sound inside computer systems.
And binary.
So. Much. Binary.

[Futz]

I'm afraid you'll be using VB at A level too so you mayaswell get good at it. :D

[jackass]

Teaching. It's use as an actual programming language in the real world is non-existent.

Well that's a load of rubbish. I work for BT and the amount of macros and tools that are made in VB (VBA technically...) via Excel and Access is unbelievable. I've made many myself during my time there and they come in very useful when compiling MML for site migrations and whatnot.

[Chippiewill]

Well that's a load of rubbish. I work for BT and the amount of macros and tools that are made in VB (VBA technically...) via Excel and Access is unbelievable. I've made many myself during my time there and they come in very useful when compiling MML for site migrations and whatnot.

I'll correct myself, use of VB as a programming language is non-existant at any reasonable organisation.

[jackass]

I'll correct myself, use of VB as a programming language is non-existant at any reasonable organisation.

Shows you have a very misguided view of British Telecom then.

[Chippiewill]

Shows you have a very misguided view of British Telecom then.
Shows I have a very low regard for BT, yes.

[CrazyLemurs]

I'm afraid you'll be using VB at A level too so you mayaswell get good at it. :D

Oh darn :(
At least I'm pretty okay at it I suppose xD

[Pegle]

I should be doing GCSE Computing next year. But me a teacher and a friend are learning Python after school and it's going quite well. I don't really like VB.NET as I got bored of it pretty quickly.

[dbgtz]

I'm afraid you'll be using VB at A level too so you mayaswell get good at it. :D

Unless the college does C# or Delphi. Even if they don't teach it, you can learn independently and do the A2 project in that language.

Personally I'd say if you don't like it, teach yourself a more relevant language.

[Futz]

Unless the college does C# or Delphi. Even if they don't teach it, you can learn independently and do the A2 project in that language.

Personally I'd say if you don't like it, teach yourself a more relevant language.

Yeah I agree with dbgtz, if you're serious about a career in programming, equip yourself with as many languages as you can and get really good at some of the mainly used ones like c# javascript PHP, most programmers are self taught but just need the paper degree from computer science to prove it

[mrwoooooooo]

Well that's a load of rubbish. I work for BT and the amount of macros and tools that are made in VB (VBA technically...) via Excel and Access is unbelievable. I've made many myself during my time there and they come in very useful when compiling MML for site migrations and whatnot.

... they use Access? LOL

[CrazyLemurs]

Unless the college does C# or Delphi. Even if they don't teach it, you can learn independently and do the A2 project in that language.

Personally I'd say if you don't like it, teach yourself a more relevant language.

I don't know what our school teaches at A-Level, but it's a lot of effort to be learning another programming language out of school, and I'm really lazy.
To be honest, the GCSE (and maybe A-Level) are really for something to get a good grade on, rather than make a career out of.

[Recursion]

... they use Access? LOL

Sarcasm? Access is a huge product.

[mrwoooooooo]

Sarcasm? Access is a huge product.
Shouldn't be used in businesses of BT's size...

[Recursion]

Shouldn't be used in businesses of BT's size...

You don't even know what it's being used for... there's no reason for it not to be used in a business of any size.