Choosing VB.NET or C# Learning Guide
One of the biggest questions facing Visual Basic 6 developers is whether to make the jump to C# or to VB.NET. This Learning Guide aims to make that decision-making process easier.
One of the biggest questions facing Visual Basic 6 developers is whether to make the jump to C# or to VB.NET. The languages are very similar, but there are enough differences that one should think carefully before choosing one or the other -- or both.
This Learning Guide aims to make the process of choosing your next .NET language easier. First, we assembled articles and commentary from authors and bloggers who have compared the two languages. Then we compiled resources that will help developers make the transition from VB 6 to VB.NET, from VB 6 to C# and, if need be, from C# to VB.NET. Finally, we listed forums where developers can post their VB.NET and C# questions.
If you'd like to submit additional resources for this learning guide or suggest other topics for new learning guides, please send us an email and let us know.
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Quick Start | ![]() |
- Definition: C#
- (SearchVB.com)
- Definition: VB.NET
- (SearchVB.com)
- White Paper: Differences between Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET
- (Microsoft)
- Tutorial: Introduction to the C# Language and the .NET Framework
- (Microsoft)
- Tutorial: What's New in Visual Basic
- (Microsoft)
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Neutral Commentary | ![]() |
- Webcast: On VB, C# and the so-called language war
- (TheServerSide.NET)
- Article: Choosing between VB.NET and C#
- (Developer Network Journal)
Article: Complete Comparison for VB.NET and C# - (The Code Project)
- Article: VB.NET or C#: Choose your weapon
- (Tech Rebublic)
- Article: Choosing between C# and VB.NET
- (ASPNETDIR)
- Book Excerpt: Choosing a .NET Language
- (Addison-Wesley)
- Commentary: Tools for VB <-> C# conversions
- (Rockford Lhotka)
- Commentary: VB and C#: Some perspective
- (Keith Pleas)
- Commentary: Should I move from VB 6 to VB.NET or C#?
- (Paul Vick)
- Commentary: What language should you use?
- (DMB Consulting)
- Commentary: .NET Questions: VB.NET vs. C#
- (.NET Questions forum)
- Commentary: Choosing between .NET Pepsi and .NET Coke
- (Jeff Atwood)
- Commentary: C# or VB.NET? Which would you use and *why*?
- (MSDN Channel 9 Forum)
- Commentary: VB = C#
- (Daniel Moth)
- Commentary: C# versus VB.NET
- (Sahil Malik)
- Commentary: Choosing a Language for .NET Development
- (Cary Jensen)
- Commentary: C# or VB.NET 2005
- (Wrox Press P2P Community Forums)
- Tutorial: Ten Code Conversions for VBA, Visual Basic .NET, and C#
- (Microsoft)
- Tutorial: From VB.NET to C# and Back Again: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
- (4GuysFromRolla.com)
- Tutorial: Differences between C# and VB.NET 2003 versions
- (Philippe Lacoude)
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Pro-C# Commentary | ![]() |
- Commentary: Top 10 reasons C# is better than VB.NET
- (vbRAD)
- Commentary: C# vs. VB -- Development Tool Envy?
- (Rick Strahl)
- Commentary: Why to move from VB 6 to C#
- (Daniel Moth)
- Commentary: Are You a C# Pro? You Should Be
- (ASP.NET Pro)
- Commentary: The Slow Brain Death of VB.NET
- (Jeff Atwood)
- Commentary: Best C# book for VB 6.0 developer
- (.NET Questions forum)
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Pro-VB.NET Commentary | ![]() |
- Commentary: Top 10 reasons VB.NET is better than C#
- (vbRAD)
- Commentary: How not to convince people to convert to C#
- (new TechBlog)
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VB to VB.NET Migration Resources | ![]() |
SearchVB.com has covered this topic extensively. So rather then reinvent the wheel, in this section we link to existing resources that will help developers move from Visual Basic 6 to VB.NET. |
- Reference:.NET Migration Learning Guide
- (SearchVB.com)
- Reference: Visual Basic 2005 Learning Guide
- (SearchVB.com)
- Reference: VB 6 to VB.NET Migration Summit
- (Aggelos Inc. and Develop Mentor)
- Mini-Guide: VB.NET and the .NET Framework -- Part 1 | Part 2
- (SearchVB.com)
- Mini-Guide: Visual Basic 6 and VB.NET
- (SearchVB.com)
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VB to C# Migration Resources | ![]() |
- Reference:Visual C# 2005 Learning Guide
- (SearchVB.com)
- Article: Convert VB.NET to C# using Macros and Regular Expressions
- (Know Dot Net)
- Book Excerpt: C# for Visual Basic 6 developers
- (John Wiley & Sons)
- Reference: C# Tutorial Starter Kit
- (Develop Mentor)
- Tip: Converting from VB.NET to C#
- (SearchVB.com)
- Free code converter: VBto
- Free code converter: VB.Net to C# Converter 1.1
- (Shareup Networks)
- Free code converter: GBVB (Goodbye VB)
- (Daniel Turini, The Code Project)
- Free code converter: Instant C# 1.4
- (TopShareware.org)
- Free code converter: Convert VB.NET to C#
- (Developer Fusion)
- Free code converter: Convert VB.NET to C#
- (dotnetspider.com)
- Free code converter: CodeTranslator
- (Carlos Aguilar Mares)
- Commercial code converter: VB6TOCS
- (Netcoole)
- Commercial code converter: Visual Basic Upgrade Companion
- (Art in Soft)
- Commercial code converter: Datatek
- Commercial code converter: TransKing
- (e-iceblue)
- Commercial code converter: V#
- (Ellkay)
- Commercial code converter: C-Sharpener for VB
- (Elegant Technologies)
- Commercial code converter: Expat Software
- Commercial code converter: Instant C#
- (Tangible Software Solutions)
- Commercial code converter: VB.NET to C# Converter
- (VBConversions)
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C# to VB.NET Migration Resources | ![]() |
- Article: Paste as Visual Basic: A Visual Studio Add-In that Converts C# to VB
- (Microsoft) -- NEW!
- Free code converter: Convert C# to VB.NET
- (Kamal Patel)
- Free code converter: CodeTranslator
- (Carlos Aguilar Mares)
- Free code converter: C# to VB.NET Translator
- (Alex Lowe, AspAlliance.com)
- Free code converter: Convert C# code to VB.NET
- (dotnetspider.com)
- Commercial code converter: Instant VB
- (Tangible Software Solutions)
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C# Forums | ![]() |
- Where peers share know-how and experience: ITKnowledge Exchange
- (SearchVB.com)
- Visual C# General
- (Microsoft)
- Visual C# Language
- (Microsoft)
- Visual C# IDE
- (Microsoft)
- C#
- (Wrox)
- C# 2005
- (Wrox)
- C#
- (C# Friends.com)
- C#
- (Developer Fusion)
- C# Q&A Forum>
- (4GuysFromRolla.com)
- C# Forum Message Board
- (C# Help)
- C-Sharp Programming
- (CodeGuru Forums)
- .NET C# Forum
- (The Scripts)
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VB.NET Forums | ![]() |
- Where peers share know-how and experience: ITKnowledge Exchange
- (SearchVB.com)
- Visual Basic .NET General (Microsoft)
- Visual Basic .NET Language
- (Microsoft)
- Visual Basic .NET IDE
- (Microsoft)
- Visual Basic .NET Power Packs
- (Microsoft)
- Visual Basic Interop and Upgrade
- (Microsoft)
- Visual Basic .NET
- (VBForums)
- Visual Basic .NET
- (CodeGuru Forums)
- Visual Basic .NET
- (Developer Fusion)
- VB.NET
- (DevCity.NET Forums)
- Beginning VB.NET 2002/2003
- (Wrox)
- Pro VB.NET 2002/2003
- (Wrox)
- Beginning Visual Basic 2005
- (Wrox)
- Pro Visual Basic 2005
- (Wrox)