Visual Basic: Not Dead Yet

By Oliver Rist

November 1, 2000 —

Despite Microsoft's intent to inexorably push its hordes of Visual Basic programmers toward the new C# platform, I don't see Visual Basic suddenly disappearing in a puff of smoke. Like most platform migrations, this move will happen slowly-especially considering that both languages are fairly Microsoft-centric. No point in angering your existing customer base by yanking the rug out from under them.

That means that Visual Basic will be hanging around for the near future. Indeed, Redmond has already announced that we'll be seeing new enhancements to Visual Basic in its next round of version upgrades, so there is obviously still life left in Visual Basic on the Microsoft campus.

For hard-core programming gurus, this really isn't important information. Visual Basic has never made many inroads with deep core coders due mainly to its orientation as an easy-to-use programming interface aimed at everyman. This ease-of-use mandate has taken its toll on Visual Basic, both in terms of flexibility as well as performance. The latter problem results most often from too much visual coding. Linking objects and functions in a unified workspace is certainly a simpler process to manage than syntax-style programming, but the "auto-code" that gets generated by the system in the background is usually far from elegant or efficient.

That's why the hard-core programmer typically prefers IDE environments that are mostly wizard- and component-free. A straight syntax-based work environment bolstered by compilers, debuggers and linkages aimed specifically at this style of code-cutting is what counts to the propeller-cap set. But frankly, that's only one extreme.

It's easy for gurus to look down on the rest of us unwashed masses; they've taken the time and cultivated their talent to rise to such levels. But cutting code really isn't just for gurus in today's world. Plenty of mainstream power users or professional folks with other core skill sets often need the ability to create a little custom code on the side. And while elegance and efficiency are the Holy Grails of enterprise development, utility coding is really mostly about functionality.

Visual Basic's problem here is that while it's certainly easier to master than C++, it still represents a significant learning curve to nonprogrammers. This really isn't something you can pick up in just a week or two.

Enter SoftWire 2.0 for Visual Basic 6.0.

Built by SoftWire Technology (previously called Measurement Computing Corp.), SoftWire 2.0 is a graphical add-in for Visual Basic that really takes a solid shot at allowing nonprogrammers to quickly build working Visual Basic applications. The company touts SoftWire 2.0 as "no programming experience is required," and they've done a pretty solid job.

In effect, SoftWire provides Visual Basic users with the ability to program using code blocks. Programmers select the functionality they're looking for from a menu structure, and then place the corresponding objects in the standard Visual Basic workspace. SoftWire then lets them connect these objects with drag-and-drop "wires." Then just save/compile and the application's ready to run-without the developer having written a single line of code.

Even better, the tool can actually help neophytes learn how to program Visual Basic from a syntax perspective by allowing them to "walk" through their completed SoftWire application and showing them how the disparate Visual Basic code blocks work, including very nice explanations of how forms and property pages work.

More experienced Visual Basic programmers can also use SoftWire in a time-crunch situation. While this will force them to develop applications based on third-party components, SoftWire has done an excellent job of providing a truly wide variety of functional and GUI-based reusable objects. Even better, these objects are all COM-based, so they can be integrated fairly easily into larger applications.

SoftWire's bundled component collection includes more than 130 code blocks that have recently been upgraded with new support for TCP/IP, arithmetic, financial and analysis functions. There are also new Excel functions, new database query and grid options and a full suite of TCP/IP communications controls.

Still, the $495 SoftWire (www.softwiretechnology.com) isn't quite the coding utopia it claims. Developers still use third-party components connected via auto-generated plumbing. And, yes, this type of code is never as fast or reliable as is the stuff created by truly knowledgeable professionals. But it was certainly simple to use, and its ability to help teach Visual Basic syntax is a real bonus.

I wouldn't outfit every corporate end user with a copy for fear of being overwhelmed by newly minted mini-apps, but for members of a development team who don't have Visual Basic expertise, SoftWire can make them productive with the tool right away.

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