All competent web developers must master JavaScript for client-side
development.
Javascript derives from the legacy syntax and grammar of C.
Furthermore, the current trend in web development is significantly dependent
on the use of JavaScript to enable a rich user interface the equivalent or
near equivalent to that of Windows applications. The manifestation of this
trend is called A(synchronous) JA(vascript) X(ML) with Microsoft's libraries
called Atlas all of which used to be simply referred to as remote
scripting.; issuing calls to the server which returns data to the user
interface resulting in possible changes to the user interface without a
noticeable 'post back' page flash. Just like a Windows application in this
sense.
I have postulated that this current trend will not dissapate and will in
fact impose increasing demands on the VB.NET developers who will be under
pressure to develop a high quality user interface that their peers who have
mastered legacy C syntax and grammar can and will produce in less time with
a higher quality result. On that basis I contend VB as a syntax and a
grammar will be 'killed off gently' so to speak for all but the most
competent of VB developers who can cope with mastering two sets of syntax
and grammar while producing masterful results.
Throw CSS and standardized web semantics into the discussion and we now have
what has been aptly called Web 2.0. Thus, my opinion is the legacy C
languages are overtaking VB syntax whic I believe will erode the legacy of
VB syntax and grammar if not kill it completely in the years to come. Time
will tell.
Thus, while VB.NET promises many benefits and can be said to produce the
same results as any other CTS compliant language if you want to really
master ASP.NET web development it seems to make more sense to learn C# which
I contend offers more efficiency in the context I have illiterated. Yes
VB.NET offers RAD features but to what end when you can't hack the client?
That's why I really consider those who say "both C# and VB.NET are
equivalently the same and one should learn what one is most comfortable
with" equates to a shallow consideration that has not considered the big
picture.
The big picture also includes the end of the era when somebody 'designed'
the page layout and threw it over the wall to a developer who wrote the
code. Nowadays, web developers are becoming ÜberGeeks (alt-0220) who have
developed a mastery of the entire process.
In this regard of the "which language" question I have been espousing what I
call a 341 philosophy.
When you learn [C# | JavaScript] you learn "three languages for the price of
one" You learn JavaScript, C# and Java all of which share the same syntax
and grammar with major differences only in the .NET and J2EE frameworks.
This strategy can only help make a person a better developer with extensive
skills that allow the developer to understand if not migrate to other
platforms where Java is the dominant language. The growing use of XML Web
Services in the enterprise demands .NET developers understand how to
collaborate with Java developers. Share code? No problem I can read and
understand your Java and we can talk dude :-)
Contemporary web developers also need to master SQL Server as JET is fading
away into the past. The current and forward looking strategy is the
recommended use of SQL Server Express 2005 on the desktop which scales up to
SQL Server 2005 with little to no relearning. I don't know much about the
forms interface Access provides in the context of the newer SQL strategies.
The only thing I can say in favor of VB.NET is it still appears in the
majority of employment listings. I attribute this to 'monkey see monkey do'
and the ignorance of corporate management which assumes the value of the
past can be replicated into the future. Thus, if you aspire to remain a
cubicle monkey you may decide it best to stick with VB syntax and grammar
anyway That would mean you will still face the rigorous demands of mastering
client-side web development at your expense when surrounded by the monkeys
in the workplace who do not understand that things change, things have
changed, and the future is one which is best considered using a language
derived from C for all of the reasons I have cited.
So either way you look at it you were right in assuming a year or two of
transition. I am moving into my second year coming from an ASP background
with the steepest part of the curve rooted in learning OOP as it is applied
to the .NET Framework. Its no picnic but I am loving every minute of it.
<%= Clinton Gallagher
METROmilwaukee (sm) "A Regional Information Service"
NET csgallagher AT metromilwaukee.com
URL
http://metromilwaukee.com/
URL
http://clintongallagher.metromilwaukee.com/
"Hermawih" <he******@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message
news:53**********************************@microsof t.com...
Thanks Daniel .
For me with background of VBA , ASP.Net with VB.Net language is easier to
learn than JAVA . For web server Application , I am convinced that
ASP.Net
with VB.Net is the correct choice - at least for me .
The thought of learning Javascript for client scripting scared me . One
Language is hard enough to learn .
--
Hermawih
"Daniel O'Connell [C# MVP]" wrote:
"Hermawih" <he******@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message
news:75**********************************@microsof t.com... > Hello ,
>
> I want your opinion about this .
> In order to say it clearly , I think I have to describe it in long
> sentences .
>
> I could consider myself as Intermediate/Advance Access Developer ;
> Intermediate/Advanced Database designer .
>
> Because of the requirements , I must create Web Application . Access
> Pages
> is not suitable for that so I think about learning VB Net / ASP Net .
> I
> am
> learning it for just about 2 months . with just little background on
> that
> thing , could I say that :
>
> A. ASP net is for web server application .
> B. ASP net and VB script is not good enough for Client scripting on
> html .
> I really need both capabilities of the language .
>
> I ended up wasting 3 days for investigating other options . It crossed
> my
> mind to learn Python / Ironphyton . I found in one article that Dot
> Net
> is
> not "Dynamic Progamming" which meant that variables must be declared
> before
> they are used .
>
> But Learning is serious Investment. Before spending two or more years
> learning new languages , I must be sure which are more suitable for :
>
> A. Web programming with server side and client side capabilities .
> B. Web progamming for database application .
>
> Please , I need your expert opinion on this .
I'm not much of a web developer, but I'd say VB.NET, Java, Javascript,
and
PHP should be the languages to target. PHP is the simpliest in my
experiance, and will do the job for simple applications.
The platforms you want to target is important. VB.NET isn't all that
worthwhile if you are targeting *nix servers, but I hear ASP.NET is a
little
easier to deal with than Javas system.
You aren't going to get a single language for coding both serverside and
clientside systems. Browsers only support a small number of langauges,
javascript mostly. Serverside languages are generally broader, either
designed for easier use (templating languages like PHP) or more sure and
flexible programming(statically typed, compiler checkd languages like
VB.NET
and Java).
