Visual Basic .NET

Visual Basic .NET is the second series of Microsoft's Visual Basic series.  It is sometimes shortened to VB.NET. It is an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) and it includes an easy 'drag-and-drop' interface. It can make complete programs for Windows very easily.

Background
Visual Basic

It was first released in 1992 by Microsoft. Visual Basic is a simple way to make programs for Windows. It started as Project Ruby by Alan Cooper and then was sold to Microsoft. The system is built loosely on the original BASIC programming language released in 1963 and it can 'Test' programs in real-time, error checking them in a user-friendly way.

.NET Framework

This package is the 'backbone' of Visual Basic .NET. When applications are created, the Windows Installer includes the framework with it. It includes all the items needed to run the VB.NET applications that have been made.

Editions

Visual Basic was first released in May 1991 for Windows. Many versions have been released since then. These are listed below:

 Name  Operating System  Date Released Visual Basic .NET Windows  2002 Visual Basic .NET 2003 Windows  2003 Visual Basic 2005 Windows  2005 Visual Basic 2005 Studio Windows  2005 Visual Basic 2008 Studio Windows  2008 Visual Basic 2010 Studio Windows  2010

Visual Basic 2010 Express Edition

This is a free version of Visual Basic 2010 released officially from Microsoft. It is aimed at encouraging more newbie programmers to try the series. The program can be downloaded from Microsoft's Website.

Controls

Visual Basic .NET uses many controls which can be added to the forms or windows in the application. Other developers can create controls for applications, not just the ones that Microsoft include.

Examples

The following example makes a program window pop up that says "Hello World" and has a button that says "OK" used to close the window:

Public Sub button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles button1.Click
    MsgBox("Hello World")
End Sub

 Other websites 
 VB.NET Step by Step Tutorial 
 Visual Studio .NET Homepage
 Visual Studio Express Homepage

Category:Microsoft software
Category:Integrated development environments
Category:Programming languages