Designed by Anders Hejlsberg (creator of Turbo Pascal an

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Comparison ofC and VB.NetBySam NasrOctober
26, 2004
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What is C?

• C (C-Sharp) is a new language developed by
  Microsoft Corporation.
• Designed by Anders Hejlsberg (creator of Turbo
  Pascal and architect of Delphi), Scott Wiltamuth,
  and Peter Golde.
• Described as a ...simple, modern,
  object-oriented, and type-safe programming
  language derived from C and C.
• Bears many syntactic similarities to C and
  Java.

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What is VB.Net?

• VB.Net is the latest release of Microsofts
  Visual Basic language.
• VB is an event driven programming language.
• Derived heavily from BASIC.
• VB enables Rapid Application Development (RAD) of
  graphical user interface (GUI) applications.

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Myths

• VB.Net is intended for use with Microsoft Office.
• C is the latest release of C.
• C is easier to learn than VB.Net.
• To better understand C, one should first learn
  C.
• A .Net solution can contain only 1 language.

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Language Differences

• The differences of the 2 languages lie in
• Syntax
• Object Oriented Features
• Visual Studio.Net IDE

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Syntax Differences

• Case Sensitivity
• Line Termination
• Comments
• Namespace Declaration and Usage
• Variable Declaration
• Variable Initialization
• Declaring Function Parameters
• Passing Function Parameters
• Optional Parameters
• Parameter Lists
• Method Declaration
• Returning Output Parameters
• Program Startup
• Exiting Programs/Methods/Loops

• Member Scope
• Static/Shared Methods
• Classes versus Modules
• If statements
• Short Circuiting
• Conditional Statements
• Properties and Indexers
• Arrays
• For Loops
• For/Each Loops
• Try/Catch Blocks
• Attribute Usage
• Control Characters
• Type Comparison and Conversion

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C Example(Syntax)

• / C Style comment /
• // C Style comment
• ///Enhanced comment for Documentation Feature
• Void SampleProc()
• int intCounter10
• MessageBox.show(Counter1
  intCounter1.ToString())
• //end of SampleProc

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VB.Net Example(Syntax)

• Style of comments for VB.Net
• Sub SampleProc()
• Dim intCounter1 as Integer, intCounter2 as
  Integer
• MessageBox.show(Counter1 intCounter1)
• End Sub end of SampleProc

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Object-Oriented Features

• Inheritance Syntax
• Method Overloading
• Constructors
• Invoking Other Constructors
• Invoking Base Constructors
• Initializers
• Hiding Base Class Members

• Overriding methods
• Requiring/Preventing Inheritance
• Declaring and Implementing Interfaces
• Delegated and Events
• Comparing Classes
• String Comparisons

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C Example(Object Oriented)

• class App
• static void Main(string args)
• int intCounter0
• foreach (string arg in args)
• System.Console.WriteLine(Counter
  intCounter.ToString() arg)
• //end of foreach
• //end of Main()
• //end of App

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VB.Net Example(Object Oriented)

• Class App
• Shared Sub Main(ByVal args as String( ) )
• Dim arg as String
• Dim intCounter as Integer
• For Each arg in args
• System.Console.Writeline(Counter
  intCounter arg)
• Next For Each loop
• End Sub end of Main()
• End Class end of App

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IDE Differences

• AssemblyInfo.x
• Default/Root Namespace
• Startup object
• App.ico
• Imports/Using

• COM References
• Compiler Constants
• Options
• (Explicit, Strict, Compare)
• Errors and Warnings

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Specific Language Features

• Unsafe Blocks (C)
• Using (C)
• Documentation Comments (C)
• Operator Overloading (C)
• Late Binding (VB)

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Unsafe Blocks (C)

• class Class1
• static unsafe void main (string args)
• string sName Joe Mojica
• fixed (char Temp sName)
• char ch Temp
• ch 4
• ch (char)o
• ch 1
• ch (char) o
• System.Console.WriteLine(sName)

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Using (C)

• void OpenDatabase()
• string cstr
• cstr "ProviderMicrosoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0"
• cstr "Data Sourcec\\MyDB.mdb"
• using (OleDBConnection conn new
  OleDBConnection(Cstr))
• conn.open()

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Documentation Comments (C)

• ///ltsummarygt
• ///A Sample Function to demonstrate C
• ///lt/summarygt
• ///ltparam namevoidgtThis function does not
  receive a parameter. lt/paramgt
• ///ltreturnsgtVoid Typelt/returnsgt
• Void SampleProc()
• int intCounter1, intCounter2
• MessageBox.show(Counter1 intCounter1)
• //end of SampleProc

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Controversial Issues

• Point
• C offers less typing.
• C is a better programming language because it
  forces variables to be defined.
• C code runs faster.
• Counter-Point
• VB.Net offers automatic case setting
• VB.Net offers Option Explicit
• Speed is debatable!

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Which Language do I choose for my organization?

• Which language features do I need?
• Which language features can I live without?
• What is the background of the staff?
• Which language does my staff work more
  comfortably with?
• Can staff members be comfortable with both?
• What is the availability of Human Resources for a
  specific language?

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Language Converters

• C to VB.NET
• http//www.aspalliance.com/aldotnet/examples/trans
  late.aspx
• http//www.kamalpatel.net/ConvertCSharp2VB.aspx
• VB.Net to C
• http//www.e-iceblue.com
• http//www.vbconversions.com

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Additional Information

• C VB.NET Conversion Pocket Reference by Jose
  Mojica
• C in a Nutshell By Peter Drayton, Ben Albahari,
  Ted Neward
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_Basic_programm
  ing_language

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Upcoming Events

• MSDN Event (http//msevents.microsoft.com)
• Thursday (10/28/2004), 100 500 PM at Regal
  Town Cinemas. Free
• New SQL Server SIG
• Every 3rd Thursday 630-830 PM
• ALG - 30640 Bainbridge Road in Solon
• Next meeting COM and .Net Components
• Thursday, Nov 23, 2004 630-830 PM

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Career Info

• Intuit Corp is seeking 2 Sr. .Net Developers.
  Contact Heather Winchester (heather_winchester_at_int
  uit.com) at 214-387-2125. See
  www.intuit.com/about_intuit/careers for more
  info.
• Adaptive Solutions Group is seeking several C
  web developers for contract to hire. Contact
  Matt Twyman (mtwyman_at_adaptivesg.com) at
  314-236-3853. See www.adaptivesg.com for more
  info.
• Robert Half Technology is accepting resumes for
  various development positions. Contact Kim
  Nasierowski (kimberly.nasierowski_at_rht.com) at
  216-621-6633. See www.rht.com for more info.
• Tek Systems is accepting resumes for various
  development positions. Contact Janelle Capretta
  (jcapretta_at_teksystems.com) at 216-654-1840. See
  http//www.teksystems.com for more info.
• Invesmart is seeking 2 VB.Net developer
  positions. See www.invesmart.com