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"VB and C#"

A couple of weeks ago, I started consciously paying attention to people in Microsoft presentations mention the various languages of .NET.  I noticed a couple of things:

  • C++ is extremely rare in being mentioned.
  • J# is usually mentioned in jest... but still very rarely.
  • C# is usually mentioned primarily with VB mentioned secondarily.

On the last point, from a historical perspective and a number of users perspective, I'd kind of expect VB to be mentioned firstly and C# secondarily.  If you had more than one child, you'd mostly introduce them in passing from the eldest to the youngest.  Of course this is not always the case, but from my experience, it's been the case thus far.  C++, VB, C# and J# are kind of like children... so why not the same ordering?

Anyway, I was extremely happy to notice that (non-other than) Don Box mentioned almost every time in his presentation “VB and C#”.

Not trying to start a huge debate on this, just that it was something that I kind of noticed and started paying attention to... in the end it's really no big deal... in the end a person is probably going to mention their primary language first.  This is completely understandable; but I think when discussing Microsoft presentations that they should be conscious of this behavior.  To me it would help lead to a (possibly even subconscious) improvement in VB's place in the world.

Published Friday, September 30, 2005 2:21 PM by CorySmith
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Comments

# re: "VB and C#"

Friday, September 30, 2005 4:49 PM by Leigh Kendall
Glad to see I'm not the only one who notices this... I was just recently at a "Code Camp" in Boston, and it was the same thing. I think Julie Lerman was about the only presenter "really" doing VB. I even had a presenter _apologize_ that the code was in VB; kidding, but still... And in other situations, I hear/read presenters when talking about technology not even mention VB, but will rattle off all the other usual suspects.

[Off-topic section]
What I'm waiting for is the "new" chasm that will exist when the new C++/CLI version is released. I can just see it now... "only people who can't do C++ use C#..." And I'm sure all the rags will be touting the new C++/CLI as well and how with C++/CLI why do we need C# anymore and especially VB. Just look at a recent VS Studio Mag editorial by Pat Meader entitled "Is C# the only language that matters?" What a piece of rubbish... They're starting to sound like the ASP.NET Pro editorial way back trying to get everyone onto C# at the same time they were trying to release the aborted C# Pro mag... you really have to wonder.

VB is NOT going anywhere... It's good to see people like Eric Meijer on board with VB. VB as a whipping boy is really getting stale. Funny how none of the new languages like Boo, Ruby or others use a C-based syntax, yet C-advocates are OK with that. Is it me, or do those look more like VB in their syntax? I just don't get it...

Just browse the C# newsgroup; it's amazing the level of RTFM questions..., but I guess some folks feel that their code doesn't stink if they wipe with semi-colons. Don't get me wrong, I like C#, but the crap on VB mantra "Ain't" (pun intended for those who get it) funny anymore. There's plenty of "professional" development going on in the VB community.

# re: "VB and C#"

Monday, October 03, 2005 9:44 PM by Alphabet Man
In alphabetical order C# comes before VB. Don't read to much into it or over think the issue.

# re: "VB and C#"

Tuesday, October 04, 2005 10:06 AM by Leigh Kendall
>>In alphabetical order C# comes before VB.<<

Not really... ;-)

Visual Basic 2005
Visual C# 2005
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