As we mentioned in earlier chapters, it makes no much difference. Whether you write code in VB.NET or C#, when you compile, your code will get converted to MSIL (Microsoft Intermediate language). It is this MSIL which you deliver to your customer in the form of a DLL or EXE. The MSIL is executed by the same .NET framework, whether you wrote it originally in C# or VB.NET.
The MSIL generated by C# and VB.NET is almost 99% is the same! Many believe that C# has the power of C++ and VB.NET has the user friendliness of VB. That is not true. Both are equally powerfull and friendly.
VB.NET has backward compatibility with old Visual basic. So, it supports old vb functions. C# is a fresh, clean language. So strongly support using C# instead of VB.NET just for this clean compiler.
Many old VB guys usually like to stick with VB.NET and are kind of scared of C#. We are sure that you will not take more than few days to get familiar with C# syntax. This online tutorial is based on C# and all samples will be provided in C#.
Is it platform independent ?
Many people ask this question "Java is platform independent, what about .NET ?".
The answer is "Yes" and "No" !
The code you write is platform independent, because whatever you write is getting compiled into MSIL. There is no native code, which depends on your operating system or CPU. But when you execute the MSIL, the .NET framework in the target system will convert the MSIL into native platform code.
So, if you run your .NET exe in a WIndows machine, the .NET framework for Windows will convert it into Windows native code and execute. If you run your .NET application in Unix or Linux, the .NET framework for Unix/Linuxwill convert your code into Unix/Linux native code and execute. So, your code is purely platform independent and runs anywhere!
But wait, we said it wrong... there is no .NET framework for Unix or Linuxavailable now. Microsoft has written the .NET framework only for Windows. If you or some one else write a .NET framework for other platforms in future, your code will run there too. So, let us wait until someone write .NET framework for Linux before you run your .NET code in Linux.
Is it worth learning .NET ?
Are you sure you have a very good job now and your job is safe for next 10 years? Then, probably you don't need to waste your time to learn this new technology.
If you are not sure about the future of your job, better spend sometime and make sure you have fuel to run for next few years!
How long it will take to learn .NET ?
It all depends on how fast you can learn. If you are familiar with Visual Basic or C++, you can come to speed in .NET within 1-2 months. If you are a new to programming, we estimate 6 months will be a reasonable period to become comfortable with .NET world.
Future of .NET
Microsoft is moving all its technologies to be .NET based or .NET related. The next version of SQL Server even supports writing stored procedures in .NET languages. .NET runtime will be part of all Operating Systems by default.
In short, if you like to work on Microsoft technologies for programming, .NET would be the only choice you will have.
So, if you run your .NET exe in a WIndows machine, the .NET framework for Windows will convert it into Windows native code and execute. If you run your .NET application in Unix or Linux, the .NET framework for Unix/Linuxwill convert your code into Unix/Linux native code and execute. So, your code is purely platform independent and runs anywhere!
But wait, we said it wrong... there is no .NET framework for Unix or Linuxavailable now. Microsoft has written the .NET framework only for Windows. If you or some one else write a .NET framework for other platforms in future, your code will run there too. So, let us wait until someone write .NET framework for Linux before you run your .NET code in Linux.
Is it worth learning .NET ?
Are you sure you have a very good job now and your job is safe for next 10 years? Then, probably you don't need to waste your time to learn this new technology.
If you are not sure about the future of your job, better spend sometime and make sure you have fuel to run for next few years!
How long it will take to learn .NET ?
It all depends on how fast you can learn. If you are familiar with Visual Basic or C++, you can come to speed in .NET within 1-2 months. If you are a new to programming, we estimate 6 months will be a reasonable period to become comfortable with .NET world.
Future of .NET
Microsoft is moving all its technologies to be .NET based or .NET related. The next version of SQL Server even supports writing stored procedures in .NET languages. .NET runtime will be part of all Operating Systems by default.
In short, if you like to work on Microsoft technologies for programming, .NET would be the only choice you will have.
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