What is Visual Basic?
Category: Programming | Posted date: 2023-06-26 01:55:21 | Updated date: 2023-06-26 22:12:05 | Posted by: Admin
What is Visual Basic?
A graphical user interface (GUI) in Visual Basic (VB), a Microsoft event-driven programming language and environment, enables programmers to change code by simply dragging and dropping objects and specifying their behavior and appearance. The computer language VB, which is thought to be event-driven and object-oriented, was derived from BASIC.
VB is sometimes referred to as a rapid application development (RAD) system and is used to prototype an application that will later be written in a more challenging but effective language. VB is designed to be simple to learn and fast to create code with.
The most widely used frameworks now are Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and Visual Studio.NET, which have all since supplanted the previous version of VB, Visual Basic 6, which was published in 1998.
Visual Basic features and characteristics
The GUI-based development tool VB provides a quicker RAD than the majority of other programming languages. In addition, VB has simpler syntax than other programming languages, an intuitive visual interface, and strong database connectivity.
The goal of Visual Basic was to provide a complete programming language with common capabilities like computation and string processing. The drag-and-drop functionality that distinguishes the visual environment enables programmers to create user interfaces that are simple to use, even for developers with little experience.
The declared values for variable data in a computer program can finally be found and used by programmers using C languages. With VB, it's difficult to perform this initialization procedure.
How Visual Basic is used
Programmers can leverage the environment to create executable files (.exe files) thanks to the structure of VB. Additionally, programmers can use VB to design applications that serve as database front ends. Programmers can use VB tools to construct applications or whole pieces of software while still having the freedom to edit and amend their work as necessary.
VBA is the version of Visual Basic that is currently most widely used. Microsoft Office applications like Excel and PowerPoint may be programmed using VBA, a kind of Visual Basic. VBA cannot be used to make new programs; it can only be used to edit already-existing ones.
By using macros, typical users of VBA can reduce the monotony of routine, repetitive work. Almost any task may be automated with macros, including data processing, word processing, and creating unique charts and tables. An ordinary user might, for instance, construct a macro that enables them to create and populate a spreadsheet with a single click. Professional programmers use VBA and macros in more intricate ways. Programmers frequently create replicable macros.
VBA can be used by companies and organizations to modify Excel for their own requirements, such as extracting specific statistics or data from a spreadsheet. By utilizing a component object model (COM) interface, a technique that enables commands to interact across computer boundaries, companies and organizations can also use VBA externally or in non-Microsoft applications. This makes it possible to use VBA on business-specific applications.
Benefits of Visual Basic
The BASIC programming language, from which VB is evolved, is straightforward and convenient to use, particularly when creating executable files.
However, when combined with Microsoft's COM interface, VB is incredibly useful. Different languages can be used to create the COM components, and VB can subsequently be used to integrate them. Additionally, VB offers an integrated development environment (IDE) that has been created and designed to enable RAD in addition to a programming language. This makes it simple for programmers to create GUIs and tie them to application-specific functions.
Additionally, the Visual Basic IDE offers simple-to-understand views of the management of the program structure.
In conclusion, VB enables the quick creation of Windows-based programs, aids in database access through the use of ActiveX data objects (ADO), and permits programmers to use ActiveX control and other objects.
History of Visual Basic
It is regarded as the third generation of event-driven programming languages and was first released in 1991. The 1990s saw the development of numerous Windows programs in VB.
However, Visual Basic for Applications, which is most frequently used today to automate Microsoft Office operations, is very compatible with the classic VB 6. VB continued to develop throughout the 1990s until Visual Basic 6 was released in 1998, which was succeeded by VB.NET.
Advantages of Visual Basic
- Simplicity
The structure of Visual Basic is what makes it so straightforward. Specifically, by using executable code. This structure is simple enough for a beginner to understand who is new to programming. Even if Microsoft improved the design, there is still less intricacy.
- Performance
Rapid Application Development (RAD) and Visual Basic make it simple to create Graphical User Interface (GUI). The web interface is one such instance. Compared to other programming languages, Visual Basic's RAD has significantly better efficacy. Because of this, it is advised for GUI-based applications.
- Learning Curve
The steep learning curve of Visual Basic is an additional advantage. As the name suggests, it offers fundamental terminology that even a novice coder may grasp. In particular, the syntax is simpler. Those who find it difficult to learn this language can use online forums, blog postings, and tutorials.
- Applicability
All of the Microsoft Visual languages have a similar platform in the .NET environment, which is where Visual Basic was developed. Therefore, the majority of functions that operate in Visual Basic will also work in other languages.
- Versatility
Because of Visual Basic's adaptability, it may be used in conjunction with other programming languages to create websites using platforms that support JavaScript or XML. It is because of this type of integration that webpages load more quickly in browsers.
Disadvantages of Visual Basic
- Memory Consumption
As was already mentioned, GUI is the foundation of Visual Basic. The graphical elements in Visual Basic take up a lot of room. Therefore, a unique memory area must be set up for installation. In essence, this translates to increased hard disk storage space and memory.
- Array Declaration
One of Visual Basic's biggest flaws is the declaration of arrays. An array structure cannot be initialized when a program is in the declaration phase of development. In programming languages like C, this is a rather straightforward procedure.
- Platform Support
Microsoft is the only company to produce Visual Basic. The only operating system on which the applications are guaranteed to run is Windows. When it comes to other platforms, the support is incredibly constrained.
- Library Requirement
The Visual Basic codes are compiled into IL. Otherwise, the application cannot be understood. Each IL file takes up a lot of hard disk space, lengthening processing times. Additionally, it can be difficult to locate these libraries. Only a small handful of websites offer these files.
- Customization
When it comes to customization, Visual Basic also imposes limitations. Once the development phase is complete, the programmers are unable to modify their functions and variables.
Features of Visual Basic
- Memory constraints
VB needs a sizable amount of memory at first installation. The language necessitates a lot of space because it offers a GUI-based development kit. Additionally, initializing structures at declaration time is not practical with VB, although it is with C. The development environment is also appropriate for programs with short processing times.
- Widespread applicability
Because of VB's ability to support "rapid application development," programmers favor it above other languages. Despite being limited to Microsoft's operating system, Visual Basic is still heavily utilized by the programming community. The language is usually best for creating GUI applications with little to no coding, such as front-end databases that let programmers create better programs than those created using VC++, Delphi, and PowerBuilder.
- Object-oriented framework
The VB object-oriented framework makes it simple for programmers to control the operations of huge, intricate, and frequently updated programs. As a result, VB encourages code reuse and scalability, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the product created.
- VB ‘runtime’
There are two portions in VB programs. The program's specific code is contained in one area, and the default code needed for every program to function is contained in the other. The second part is known as "runtime," and it is a different library with a variety of functions that can be utilized in most VB programs.
Every other VB application created in the same development version can use the runtime software by installing it in the Windows directory. Runtime programs that come pre-loaded might not function with programs created using various VB versions. For instance, the VB version 5 and VB version 6 runtimes are incompatible. Because a substantial portion of the application code is contained within the runtime feature, VB programs are tiny.
- Component Object Model (COM)
Different programming languages can communicate with one another within processes thanks to the COM capability. This makes it possible to combine the COM element created in any programming language with the VB development environment.
- Miscellaneous features
The automatic code generation for Visual Basic's visual objects is supported by features like "IntelliSense" and "code snippets." Additionally, VB offers the "AutoCorrect" feature, which enables code debugging while the application is running. Additionally, VB is essential for creating programs that can operate on various platforms, including the web, Windows, mobile devices, and more.
Uses of Visual Basic
Owing to the flexibility of VB, front-end and full-stack developers use it to design customized applications that show cross-platform support. It is also a go-to choice for developing applications that rely on forms, selections, and user inputs. Moreover, VB is also used to develop console applications that run through the command line instead of GUI.
Today, several medium and large companies such as Microsoft, Broadcom, CrowdStrike, and doubleSlash use Visual Basic in their tech stacks. VB is relied upon for inventory management, accessing databases, data collection, and communications.
- Database software
Developers generally use VB to design systems that are often required to manage large databases. Once a project is developed using GUI tools, users can easily incorporate a variety of database functionalities into it without writing difficult codes. VB also allows users to access and manage databases created using different programs like MS Access, Oracle, MySQL, and more.
- Game development
Elegant coding is not something that VB is known for. However, users can use the GUI tools in the development environment to write game-related code. Furthermore, RAD makes it simpler to construct a game prototype without having to learn the subtleties of its coding. There are restrictions on 3D animations in VB. To give 3D capability, an extra DLL is needed. But for 2D games, VB continues to be the popular choice.
- Web development
Due to the expanding IoT and the proliferation of smart devices with accessible internet connectivity, web applications, and services have grown in popularity in recent years. Today's web development uses VB to build server-side scripting applications that run on a web server rather than a browser.
For example, Active Server Pages (ASP) is a server-side scripting language that gives developers access to a "Visual Basic" environment for integrating new and pre-existing server applications and services. Additionally, VBScript is a scripting language based on VB that runs client-side instructions in browsers.
- .Net software applications
As was already said, Visual Basic gave way to VB.Net. As a result, developers working in VB have simple access to a number of .NET libraries needed to create software for platforms such as those messaging, social media, processing e-commerce orders, and logistics management, among others.
- VBA applications
The most widely used version of Visual Basic nowadays is VBA. It was employed by Microsoft to create Microsoft Office programs like Excel and PowerPoint. VBA can be used to optimize current apps in addition to developing new ones.
The'macros' capability that VBA provides is where its essential functionality rests. Developers can use this to automate tasks like word processing or making unique charts, graphs, or tables. Users have thus liberated from repetitive daily duties thanks to macros. Software developers, for instance, can construct macros that take certain information or statistics from a spreadsheet and paste them into a Word document. Making macros that copy common code sections into many applications is another example.
Final Thoughts
Neither the newest nor the most popular programming language is Visual Basic. It is not, however, really out of date yet. Many businesses still use Visual Basic today to perform crucial business operations. The language is simpler to learn, and the visual IDE makes it the ideal tool for producing applications more quickly and affordably.
If you are a newbie front-end, back-end, or full-stack developer planning to enter the B2B software industry, mastering Visual Basic Programming is a must-have ability.
