R
Rick Rothstein \(MVP - VB\)
This is where Microsoft blew it with their compiled VB... VB (and VBA by
extension), the classic versions of VB if you will, was designed to be
accessible by anyone, whether they had almost no programming knowledge or
whether they were an expert coder... there is something usable by anyone
within the classic version of VB. VB.NET, on the other hand, was designed by
programmers for programmers and, as such, is not very approachable by the
average user. What Microsoft didn't take into account is the sheer number of
non-professionals who were using VB prior to VB.NET; hence, the sharp
decline in the user base with its introduction. The VB compiler was never
really a big money maker for Microsoft, so I don't think killing off the
classic version of VB hurt their bottom line dramatically (at least they
think, or thought, that any loss would be made up over the years with the
adoption, slow that it might be, of VB.NET). Office and its upgrades, on the
other hand, is a cash cow for them and I seriously doubt they will do
anything to affect its continuing as such.
Rick
extension), the classic versions of VB if you will, was designed to be
accessible by anyone, whether they had almost no programming knowledge or
whether they were an expert coder... there is something usable by anyone
within the classic version of VB. VB.NET, on the other hand, was designed by
programmers for programmers and, as such, is not very approachable by the
average user. What Microsoft didn't take into account is the sheer number of
non-professionals who were using VB prior to VB.NET; hence, the sharp
decline in the user base with its introduction. The VB compiler was never
really a big money maker for Microsoft, so I don't think killing off the
classic version of VB hurt their bottom line dramatically (at least they
think, or thought, that any loss would be made up over the years with the
adoption, slow that it might be, of VB.NET). Office and its upgrades, on the
other hand, is a cash cow for them and I seriously doubt they will do
anything to affect its continuing as such.
Rick