Development application from Microsoft Corporation aimed at users from programming hobbyists to corporate developers for creating applications that run on the Microsoft Windows operating system. Common uses include creating database front-ends and customizing off-the-shelf products.

Prototyping a graphical user interface (GUI) is an important first step in application development. The user interface is the primary means by which the user relates to the program, and not infrequently makes, or breaks, a piece of software. Designing and testing an interface that best suits the user’s needs, conquers this development challenge.

GUI builders obviously speed up application development. Allowing the user interface to be created in the same integrated development environment as the actual program code provides an extra boost in speed. Such integration eliminates the need to re-create the interface during coding, or bypasses problems linking the UI to an independent application.

Overview

Visual Basic is a Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool from Microsoft commonly used in creating front ends for databases, in customizing off-the-shelf products, and, recently, in Internet programming. Formerly limited to the Windows PC platform, as of early 1999, Microsoft released editions for Windows CE (Microsoft’s handheld PC operating system) and for the Alpha RISC processor (running Windows NT).

Originally, conceived as a means of creating simple Windows applications, even by beginning programmers, the software’s success has shifted Microsoft’s mindset, into providing features directed toward professional and corporate developers. According to Microsoft, over 3.2 million developers are using Visual Basic, making it the most widely used development tool for Windows.

Visual Basic is available separately, or as part of the Microsoft Visual Studio software development suite.

Description & Analysis

Used only as a GUI builder, Visual Basic is most useful for throw-away prototypes. This arises from the difficulties communicating between a Visual Basic UI and applications designed for other platforms. Further, as Visual Basic runs only on a Windows platform, the GUI obviously has a ’Windows’ feel. This feel may not be suitable for non-windows applications. Visual Basic’s main purpose is to create complete Windows applications, not just a user interface.

Creating a Visual Basic application is, for the most part, a straightforward, easy to learn process A Visual Basic ’form,’ otherwise known as the application window, is created visually by dragging and dropping components on it from a library. The components’ attributes are set in a properties editor, and code is added to respond to events such as clicking on a particular button, control, or menu item. Visual Basic is a compiled language. The compiler is based on Microsoft Visual C++ compiler, and can create a variety of executables.

Recent versions of the Microsoft product (as well as different editions) add a wealth of features, mostly geared at professional developers. Some of these features include, ActiveX Data Object (ADO) support, a complete set of tools for integrating databases, support for COM-based components, and the ability to create multimedia applications using Dynamic HTML as a user interface.

There are two noteworthy limitations. Visual Basic applications are specific to the Windows environment while application in other languages, such as Java, can run on a variety of systems. Visual Basic does not support CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) for distributed applications. Microsoft’s COM/DCOM and Windows Distributed interNet Application (DNA) framework, however, are supported. CORBA-based development can be found in Delphi, an application similar to Visual Basic from Inprise.

System Requirements

Visual Basic 6.0 is available in three different editions (Learning, Professional, and Enterprise). Contact Microsoft for specifics in the differences in these editions and their requirements.

Useful Links

Visual Basic Online Magazine
http://www.codd.com/vb-mag/

A monthly publication maintained by NETSOL Internet Solutions Group containing articles and resources covering all aspects of Visual Basic. The site features product reviews, timely columns, tips and tricks, employment opportunities as well as an index to popular past articles. In addition, the magazine maintains two special sections, namely, the Toolbox containing information on various Visual Basic tools, and the Visual Basic Developer providing reviews of some of the latest Visual Basic software. The site provides access to the VB Online catalog containing product descriptions of some Visual Basic companion products.

Carl & Gary’s Visual Basic Home Page
http://www.cgvb.com/

Carl & Gary’s contains links to file archives, tips and tricks, current job openings, and is home to a searchable Usenet archive. The site maintains a large database of Visual Basic links pointing to topics such as Active Server Pages, ActiveX tools, CGI programming, database development, downloadable software, drivers, games and graphics, Internet programming, mathematics and scientific programming, printing and reporting, source code, speech technology, and user interface. Carl and Gary’s is useful for all skill levels; everything from links aimed at beginner programmers to shareware files written in Visual Basic.

Visual Basic Web Directory
http://www.vb-web-directory.com/

Contains source code, freeware & shareware downloads, tips & tricks, links to product updates, and help for beginners, as well as up-to-date Visual Basic news, book reviews, and a developer forum.

Visual Basic (at about.com)
http://visualbasic.about.com/

Provides how-to articles on random Visual Basic topics as well as information on ActiveX controls, database development, games and graphics, and Internet development. The site has links to code libraries and FAQ pages.

Company Contacts

Microsoft has been developing software since 1975. Most popular product areas include: operating systems for personal computers, business and consumer productivity applications, and development tools. Microsoft corporate headquarters is located outside Seattle, in Redmond, Washington.

Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
(800) 426-9400 pre-sales phone

http://www.microsoft.com/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/

Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Windows CE, Visual Basic and Visual Studio are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.