What is the difference between Visual Basic and Visual Basic.NET?

Answer 1

Differences between .Net and Java include

• Java is from Sun, .Net is from Microsoft
• Java is a language plus a runtime, .Net is a runtime framework that supports multiple languages, Visual Basic and C# (the .Net language most similar to Java) among them.
• C# is very similar to Java but a few years younger, and a bit nicer in some respects - it has a slightly simpler syntax for some common constructs.
• Java is more platform independent, it runs on several operating systems including Windows, Mac and Linux. .Net is primarily for Windows. Although the open source project Mono is developing a multi-platform runtime for .Net, so this is less of an issue than it used to be.
• .Net has a more integrated development environment, as the IDE, runtime and server all come from Microsoft as a standard package, while Java is based on third-party tool and server providers. It used to be the case that the .Net development environment was clearly superior, but the difference is smaller these days.
• It can be argued that Java gives more flexibility, as there are more server- and IDE-providers to choose from, at the cost of some extra overhead for the developer to get the different pieces to work together.

Functionality wise, there is not a lot of difference between the two, at least not when used to develop web applications.

For desktop applications, .Net naturally has an edge in Windows integration.

note: Oracle bought Sun Microsystems (Sun).

Answer 2

C is a programming language. You can create applications using C on many platforms by finding the right compiler (ex: gcc on Linux/Unix or Visual Studio in Windows). C generates unmanaged code. This means that the code is compiled into native machine code and that the programmer is responsible for all memory allocation/deallocation, security checking, etc. C is a very powerful language, but programmers must understand the many nuiances of the language to write bug-free, efficient code. .NET is a framework (essentially a wrapper around the operating system) and provides features that make programming easier. There are dozens of languages that can be used to build .NET applications. Many are provided by Microsoft (C#, VB.NET, J#, C++ with managed extensions), but there are many others as well (Perl.NET, Delphi.NET, COBOL.NET, etc).

When a .NET program is compiled, it generates managed code. This means the code is compiled into an intermediate language (CIL) and then translated to machine code (just-in-time compiled or JITed) before execution. The .NET runtime makes coding easier because it handles garbage collection, certain security issues, etc. Although the .NET framework is generally found on computers running Windows 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista, there are open source versions (Mono and DotGnu) available for Linux/Unix .

Answer 3

VB.Net identifiers are not case sensitive, C# identifiers are.

VB.Net variable declarations have the data type after the variable, C# variable declarations have the data type precede the variable.

VB.Net data types are written slightly differently; e.g. Boolean, which in C# would be written as Bool.

VB.Net statements are terminated by an end of line, whereas in C# they are terminated by a semicolon.

VB.Net statement blocks (e.g If... Then) automatically assume multiple line statements, whereas in C# the same statement block assumes a single line statement unless { } is used.

VB.Net uses parenthesis () to delimit array elements, function arguments and property indexes, whereas C# uses parenthesis to delimit function arguments only, and braces [] to delimit array elements and property indexes.

VB.Net has a specific integer division operator ( \ ), C# does not.

VB.Net has an exponentiation operator ( ^ ), C# does not.

C# has a variety of assignment operators such as Left Shift (<<=) and XOR (^=), VB.Net does not.

VB.Net has different syntax for operators in some cases, such as not equal, which in VB.Net is written as <> and in C# as !=.

VB.Net supports unstructured error handling (Note: For backward compatibility only, it is not good practise), such as OnError GoTo, whereas C# does not.

VB.Net supports optional parameters, C# does not.

VB.Net supports implicit late binding through reflection, although you can do this in C# it is much easier in VB.

In C# you can write unmanaged code (There must be a reason for this functionality somewhere), in VB you cannot.

VB.net uses different keywords than C#, such as 'NotInheritable' in VB.Net becomes 'sealed' in C#.

Vb.Net does not support operator overloading while C# supports it.

Answer 4

VB.NET is just Visual Basic implemented onto Microsoft's .NET Framework, both being Microsoft languages. While Visual Basic is part of Visual Studio, VB.NET is also part of the Visual Studio.NET release. Development of Visual Basic stopped at version 6, and VB.NET simultaneously was born at version 7.

Answer 5

Java is a Sun Microsystems family of programming languages

.Net is a Microsoft family of programming languages including their line of "Visual" products such as "Visual Basic"

Answer 6

The applications of C, C++ runs on DOS and the applications of .NET runs on GUI (Graphics User Interface) however, you can also prepare applications which runs on DOS using .NET.

Answer 7

C++ is a language. .NET is an environment. They are not really comparable.