Re: Java and Visual Basic, how to learn? -- MIDRANGE-L

I've programmed a lot in both Java and VB and I can tell you, that, from my
perspective anyway, VB is way easier to learn and understand.

Just some random thoughts: Java requires a lot of manual setup to get your
development environment going. VB is a simple install.
Java can do anything you can think of and run anywhere. But VB is pretty
versatile too.  Java requires a lot of environment related issues (i.e.,
classpaths, JVM Versions, etc...)....VB pretty much runs unfettered on any
Windows platform.  Java changes versions often (REAL OFTEN!).  VB is fairly
stable on this although there have been a lot of different versions...they
only come out every few years or so.
There's a lot of other issues, but these are the ones that sprang to mind
immediately.

My own preference is to learn VB. It interfaces very nicely and easily with
AS/400 and it's a piece of cake to write software for handhelds using
eMbedded VB.

Keep an eye on Midrange Programmer OS/400 - newsletter this month
(www.midrangeserver.com) . I've got an article coming out in it on how to
serve/view web pages from the AS/400 using VB and the Internet Browser
control. With a single line of code (although the article shows more, of
course....), you can have a complete web browser like Internet Explorer
running in a VB app in about 30 seconds.  Try doing THAT! with Java!

OK...all you Java fanatics out there can now load your weapons and fire
back. I know that the mere mention of anything Microsoft can cause dire
rage....:-)




Shannon O'Donnell


----- Original Message -----
From: "Loyd Goodbar" <loyd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 5:09 PM
Subject: Java and Visual Basic, how to learn?


> My boss believes I need to learn Java and/or Visual Basic. While I don't
> disagree, I have asked "How does this make us money, save us money, or
open
> opportunities?" Certainly there is cool stuff to be done with VB or Java,
but
> just how does it apply to the business? No matter, one of my objectives is
to
> learn one (probably VB).
>
> One of the reasons is due to our other AS/400 programmer being called up
for
> service. In the meantime, I am the only applications developer. While my
boss
> is looking for an AS/400 programmer to help me out, this is a good
opportunity
> to get "new blood" in the door with VB or Java experience. (I agree.)
Another
> reason is the relative "lack" of AS/400 resources in my area, versus lots
of
> VB resources (both people-wise and training/availability-wise).
>
> In any event, both Java and VB's popularity happened after I became
> "entrenched" :) in the AS/400 way. I've got "green screen" programming and
> AS/400-centric programming experience, and some ILE experience (with
modules,
> service programs, activation groups). But I've never touched Java or VB.
>
> I can spell OO, but that's about it. From what I understand, I need to
really
> "get" OO concepts to write good (design/architecture/maintainability) Java
or
> VB programs. Even so, I fear there is a steep learning curve between
writing
> "Hello world" and doing real-world applications, such as access data from
the
> AS/400, create drill-down reports, graph data, etc.
>
> What do I need to do, and where do I get started learning either? I would
> prefer to learn Java to VB, as I heard so many horror stories about VB. I
> don't like being stuck with Microsoft solely in control of the language.
At
> least Java is now an "open" standard; Sun can't just change it on a whim.
(I
> think.)
>
> Applications or techniques I can think about doing are...
> 1. Access data from the AS/400. Do I always need the CA toolkit to do
this, or
> is ADO/ODBC sufficient?
> 2. Facilitate easier data translation to/from the AS/400 to other systems.
> Using XML for the "storage container" seems like the right thing to do,
and
> certainly Java and VB can handle this.
> 3. Front-end various processes to AS/400 data without installing Client
Access
> on a PC. This sounds like a job for Java or JSP/servlets.
> 4. Write various programs for Windows CE devices (we have both Compaq IPAQ
and
> Dell Axims). Certain applications would benefit from being mobile.
> 5. More "interactive" reports with drill-down capabilities, various
defined
> "views", export options, graphing options.
>
> I have too many questions to ask, but those are the kind of things I
envision
> doing. How do I approach learning this? When I subscribed to the Java-101
list
> a couple of years ago, there were two trains of thought: one was to "jump
in
> and write code" and the other to "design objects first, code second".
While I
> think a little bit of both is needed, I would prefer to (be able to) take
the
> time to properly design the objects needed first, it would seem to make
the
> rest flow easier. If that's the case, it's a steeper learning curve than
just
> learning Java or VB syntax.
>
> Thoughts? Advice? Which do you prefer developing with, why?
>
> Thanks,
> Loyd
> --
> "Why, you can even hear yourself think." --Hobbes
> "This is making me nervous. Let's go in." --Calvin
> loyd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx  ICQ#504581  http://www.blackrobes.net/
>
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