Visual Basic or C#?

[davegugg]

I've heard many people say C# is a superior language to use. I am currently trying to learn C#, and I have to say it does not seem like it's any better at all. I've just been writing in notepad, so no intellisence or anything like that (it's really annoying to have to type in those curly braces all the time!).

Does anyone here have any reasons that C# may be better than VB? It seems to me that you can do the same with both, in much the same way, just with different syntax. VB seems easier to read (for me anyway).

I am supposed to be getting SQL Server and Visual Studio at work, and I know MS puts out Visual Studio in either the C# or VB languages (and maybe some others, but I don't know them anyway). I'm pretty sure most programmers here use C#. I don't know if I'll have the option, but if I do, should I pick VB, which I know better and will be able to use quicker, or C# to learn and conform?

[Mordred]

C# is a lot like Java, at least as far as I am concerned (or Java is a lot like C#). I personally like working with VB although I only do it casually at home using Visual Studio 2010. In my first year of studies at university, my Java prof put it to our class like this: "I'll teach you Java, after that you'll know the basics to coding and any syntax you'll use afterwards will require a learning curve but will be roughly the same." I take that to mean that once the coder can think logically regarding a program, the syntax they use isn't important. In saying that, I find it interesting how many coders I talk to that are for one syntax while all others are crraapp. I guess it comes down to preferences! If you are comfortable with VB, stick with it.

[TMS]

I guess it depends on whether you need to learn and/or use another language. If it will benefit you and you have the time, opportunity and inclination then why not?

On the other hand, if you already have VB skills and the language does everything you need it to do, why change?

I am of the old school of structured programming and, in principle, if you can program in one language, you can program in another. Realistically though, I don't think it's that simple and there can be quite a learning curve.

Another driver is how quickly you *need* to be productive in the language.

Some thoughts but I guess I'm sitting on the fence as far as your decision goes ... for me, it would be VB ;-)

Regards

[Colin Legg]

There are very few things that C# can do that VB .Net cannot, and vice versa.

There are some things which both languages can do, but one more easily than the other.

I'm also learning C# (and know a little VB.Net) but I do not subscribe to the idea that one language is far superior than the other. This sort of question comes up all the time on another forum I participate at; have a look here:
http://www.xtremevbtalk.com/showthread.php?t=319578

Coming from a VBA background you might find learning VB.Net easier but, if you're working it a team of C# developers, you'll probably be expected to code in C#. In the end, you should really learn to code in both!