Visual Basic .NET

Visual Basic .NET
Jason Groce · Public domain · source
Name	Visual Basic .NET
Paradigm	Object-oriented, Event-driven
Designer	Microsoft
Developer	Microsoft
First release	2002
Latest release	Visual Studio 2022 (updates)
Influenced by	Visual Basic, Visual C#, BASIC
Influenced	VB.NET languages, .NET languages

Visual Basic .NET is a multi-paradigm, event-driven programming language developed by Microsoft for the .NET Framework and later the .NET (software) platform. It evolved from earlier implementations of BASIC and the Microsoft Visual Basic family to target the managed runtime introduced with .NET Framework 1.0 and integrate with Visual Studio. The language has been used across enterprise, academic, and hobbyist projects, interacting with technologies and institutions such as Windows, SQL Server, Azure, Office (Microsoft), and various industry standards.

History

Visual Basic .NET traces roots to the original BASIC (programming language) created by John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz and commercialized by Microsoft through Microsoft Visual Basic. Major milestones include the release with .NET Framework 1.0 alongside Visual Studio .NET 2002, subsequent revisions aligned with C# and CLR updates, and ecosystem shifts toward .NET Core and .NET 5/.NET 6/.NET 7 under stewardship of Microsoft and contributors from projects like Mono (software), Xamarin, and the .NET Foundation. Notable corporate and technological events connected to its history include partnerships with Intel, transitions influenced by standards such as ECMA, and industry reactions paralleling developments at companies like Oracle Corporation, IBM, and Google.

Language Features

The language implements object-oriented principles compatible with the Common Language Runtime and supports features aligned with contemporaneous languages like C# and influenced by BASIC (programming language). Key constructs interoperate with types from System (namespace), collections influenced by Generics discussions at ECMA International, and concurrency patterns seen in libraries linked to Task Parallel Library developments. Syntax changes reflected differences from Microsoft Visual Basic and incorporated lambda expressions, asynchronous programming influenced by Async and await, and interoperability with COM components such as those used in Microsoft Office. Noteworthy people and groups related to language design discussions include engineers from Microsoft Research and contributors who also worked on projects at Bell Labs and universities like MIT and Stanford University.

Framework and Runtime Integration

Visual Basic .NET targets the Common Language Runtime used by .NET Framework and later unified .NET (software) runtimes, enabling use of libraries like Windows Forms, Windows Presentation Foundation, ASP.NET, and Entity Framework. Integration examples include data access with ADO.NET, web development stacks seen in IIS deployments, cloud integration with Microsoft Azure services, and interop with COM for automation of Microsoft Office applications. Major ecosystem collaborators include Redmond teams, standards bodies like ECMA International, and open-source implementations such as Mono (software) and maintenance by the .NET Foundation.

Development Tools and IDEs

Primary tooling centers on Visual Studio, with editions spanning Visual Studio Express and Visual Studio Community to enterprise offerings. Third-party and cross-platform tools include SharpDevelop, MonoDevelop, JetBrains Rider, and integrations in continuous integration platforms like Jenkins and Azure DevOps. Development workflows interact with version control systems including Git and Subversion, package management with NuGet, and testing frameworks influenced by xUnit.net and NUnit communities. Corporate and academic adoption often ties into training and certifications from institutions like Microsoft Learn and partnerships with vendors such as VMware and Dell Technologies.

Application Types and Uses

The language has been used for desktop software with Windows Forms and WPF, web applications via ASP.NET and ASP.NET MVC, services and APIs in WCF or ASP.NET Web API, and database-backed solutions leveraging SQL Server, Oracle Corporation databases, and MySQL. It has supported rapid application development in sectors involving companies like Accenture, Capgemini, Tata Consultancy Services, and academic projects at Harvard University and University of Cambridge. Integration with Microsoft Office enables automation tasks for Excel, Word, and Outlook, while cloud deployments leverage Microsoft Azure and containerization with Docker orchestrated via Kubernetes.

Compatibility and Migration

Migration scenarios have involved moving codebases from Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 to the managed runtime, with guidance emerging alongside tools and efforts by Microsoft and third parties. Compatibility conversations intersected with projects such as Mono (software) and cross-platform initiatives at Xamarin for mobile targets like iOS and Android, and with enterprise modernization driven by Windows Server upgrades and cloud migrations to Azure. Industry stakeholders in such migrations included consultancies like IBM Consulting and standards discussions involving ECMA International.

Criticism and Reception

Reception has been mixed: some praised the productivity and integration with Visual Studio and the .NET Framework, while others criticized language changes from earlier Microsoft Visual Basic versions and migration complexity for legacy systems. Critics and commentators included technology journalists at The New York Times, The Guardian, and industry analysts from Gartner and Forrester Research, as well as community voices on platforms associated with Stack Overflow and conferences like Microsoft Build and TechEd. Legal and policy observers at institutions such as European Commission and United States Department of Justice have monitored broader software ecosystem competition issues involving major vendors.

Category:Programming languages