Sam Moffatt

About Visual Basic
Visual Basic is a programming language based on the original BASIC and extended by Microsoft. Visual Basic 6 is the latest pre-.Net version of Visual Basic, but isn't support. Visual Basic.Net, a newer version of Visual Basic is different to the version of BASIC presented in Visual Basic 6, and programmers from Visual Basic 6 will have to adapt to the new methodoligies. QBASIC, Microsoft's first BASIC product is still used in Universities (especially engineering departments) and runs on DOS based machines. Those experienced in QBASIC will be able to adapt to Visual Basic 6, but Visual Basic.Net is different to this.

About the .Net Framework
The .Net Framework is Microsoft's new push to make everything available not matter what language your using (and their doing their best). .Net is a standard that allows developers to access common 'classes' for use in their applications. The framework also provides for a form of bytecode to allow applications to be written in multiple languages, but still compatible with each other. The current stable version of the .Net Framework is 1.1 and .Net 2.0 is being developed and is available in beta format.

Visual Basic.Net Resources
Here are a few pointers to some Visual Basic.Net Resources:

• #vb on AustNet
  Help with Visual Basic programming. Ask your question and wait for a response.
• Visual Basic 2005 Express Beta free download at http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/vbasic/default.aspx
  This is the latest version of Microsoft Visual Studio family of products. CD or DVD ordering is available at an extra cost. Please note that this is version 2.0 of the .Net Framework which is INCOMPATIBLE with earlier versions. This is also beta software and subject to problems (more likely than most Microsoft products I mean)
• Visual Basic.Net with .Net Framework SDK freely available for downlaod at http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/
  The SDK includes a free VB.Net and C# compiler
• Free VB.Net and C# IDE: #Develop available at http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SD/
  This free IDE works with the above SDK downloadable from the above location (Microsoft website).