Getting started in VB.NET

[Redstar]

I am just getting started in programming, learning on Visual Studio.NET, mostly in Visual Basic, picking up some C# when I can, and avoiding C++ (so far). I have been looking for some basic tutorials on how to draw graphics with DirectX using Visual Basic.NET (actually anything .NET) and haven't been finding much. I realize .NET is new ... just hoping to find something to get me going on this. Anyone point me in the right direction? TYIA

B)

[Dia Kharrat]

This is what this forum for. It is to help others with their problems.

Because .NET is new, I don't think you can find much material on the web. Your best bet would be books. However, since I also use .NET, I find the MSDN very useful and it answers most of my questions.

Why are you trying to avoid C++?

[Redstar]

yes the msdn articles are great.

Why am I avoiding C++ ... well I do want to learn it someday. But for now, I have been taking some courses that are an intro to VS.NET using Visual Basic, and I would like to continue to learn the VB first. Then when I get a better understanding of the dynamics of programming, the flow of logic, the design, the use of objects and dlls, etc... then I think would be a better time to dive into C++. I just get the impression that it is a more complex (and more powerful) language. Is there a flaw in my approach?

[void]

C/C++ also lets you get closer to the hardware and low level functions. I think that it would have been best for you to start off with Java and then dive into C++ because Java is easy to learn, and has syntax very very similar to C++, but avoid the syntax quibbles and memory management of C++.

[godEcho]

personal opinion:

other languages are ok to learn from (i also started with qbasic years and years ago) but if you're goal is game programming, everything else is just a halfway house until you can get your stuff together and learn c/c++.

c/c++ really isn't that bad. buy a book, take a class. there are tons of people on irc, forums, etc that'd be willing to help you with syntax, or other problems.

[woz1010]

Ah QBasic, been there done that.
I started out on Atari Basic and Apple Basic, and quickly moved on to assembly, long long ago.

Another note about learning any language, is that once you have learned one, the logic one follows to write a program, learning any other language becomes pretty easy as you are more learning the particular syntax of the language while the logic remains the same.

As for OOP, this can cause some to have to re-learn how to think, but it is a fun learning process.