I'm starting to learn Visual Basic...

jryantech

Hi I'm interested in as much information as I can suck out of you guys about Visual Basic...

I'm almost done with a book I got for free called Visual Basic 2005: DeMYSTiFieD by Jeff Kent, and I'm getting a free version of Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition from school.

Now Sun has the SCJA certification for Java (Basically an entry-level cert)

Does Microsoft have any "Entry-Level" Visual Basic certification?

Plus also enlighten me on the difference between VB and .NET if you can...

dynamik

VB and C# both use the .NET framework

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework

Microsoft does have developer certifications: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/certifications.mspx#TOOLS

I don't think they're as entry-level as that Java one though; some people here have made that one sound like a joke.

Are you just learning VB for school or are you serious about it. I think C# would be a better use of your time if you have the option.

jryantech

dynamik wrote:

VB and C# both use the .NET framework

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework

Microsoft does have developer certifications: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/certifications.mspx#TOOLS

I don't think they're as entry-level as that Java one though; some people here have made that one sound like a joke.

Are you just learning VB for school or are you serious about it. I think C# would be a better use of your time if you have the option.

Well I like the idea of Visual Basic, making Microsoft Applications...

I want to learn VB for fun and maybe work it into some certifications.

I've heard C# takes a lot of conventions from Java is this true?

Also I've heard the SCJA isn't a big deal but it's something I can show my commitment with other then just saying "Yah, I know the basics of this stuff."

jryantech

So I'm thinking about getting:

http://www.amazon.com/MCTS-Self-Paced-Training-Exam-70-502/dp/0735625662/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214773838&sr=8-1

It's a book coming out next month for the Exam 70-502, I don't expect to take the exam until maybe late September but is this the first exam I should be looking at for anything related to VB or C#?

dynamik

C# will make windows applications just as well. You'll design the interface the same way, but it's just up to you which one you want to use behind-the-scenes. C# is a more powerful (and in-demand) language. The only downside is that it's going to be a little more difficult for you to learn.

To be honest, I'm not sure if you would want to start with the Presentation exam. I think Windows Forms would be the best starting place for what you want to do.

You don't need to wait for a certification book to come out. You can pick up any current begin-level C#/VB .NET 2.0 (3.5 will just build on this, so it's still a good place to start) book and go with that. I haven't looked at a developer cert book for a few years, but I believe they really expect you to know the basics before you start working towards the certification. Try one of the "In 24 hours" or similar books to get you started.