money11465

There are C++ and Java tutorials in the FAQ, so I thought I would just add a vB one. It is a fun language to learn and use, and is a little less acronym-happy than C++ and Java, so it's a good beginner's language. The best compiler is probably MS Visual Studio 2005 (Do not flame me for recommending MS, their vB compilers don't suck). Here is the page with a free download of Express Edition:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/ex...d/default.aspx
The full version is much better, but this will do for now.

vB is considered Object Oriented Programming (OOP). All that means is that almost everything you do is calling an object of a class. For example, in Console.Writeline(), you are calling the object Writeline() of the Console class. You can also write these classes yourself.

When you open the program after installing, go to New Project>Console Application.

Some basics
The code module looks like this:
Module Module1
Sub Main()
'The apostrophe is used as the comment escape character
Dim value as Double 'Keyword "Dim" is used to declare variables,
'value is the variable's name, and it is of type double in this case.
'To run applications, go to Tools>Customize>Commands Tab>
'Debug on left, then drag "Start Without Debugging" to your toolbar.
'You will need to scroll down once you get to the Debug menu
'To run applications, you will need to hit the newly-created button
End Sub
End Module

Writing the famous "Hello World!"
Here is a complete vB Hello World application. Not that adding "line" to the end of Console.Write and Console.Read will move the output cursor to the next line, as I have done here.
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Console.Writeline("Hello World!")
End Sub
End Module
The output looks like this:
Hello World!
On the output examples, I will highlight my input as brown, as it will probably be different for you.

Using Console.Write()
Console.Write, as stated before, will keep the cursor the same line.
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Console.Write("Hello ")
Console.Writeline("World!")
End Sub
End Module
The output looks like this:
Hello World!

Concatenation with variables, strings and numbers
The & (ampersand) is used for concatenation. This is very simple:
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim variable as String
Dim var2 as Integer
Dim var3 as Integer
Dim var4 as Integer
variable = World
Console.Writeline("Hello " & variable & "!")
var2 = 5
var3 = 6
var4 = var2 & var3
Console.Writeline(var2 & " and " & var3 & " concatenated is: " & var4)
End Sub
End Module
The output looks like this:
Hello World!
5 and 6 concatenated is: 56

Accepting input
Console.Read will accept input. For asthetic reasons, I used .Write, not .Writeline so that the cursor stays on the same line for input. I then used .Readline so that the cursor would go to the next line and start the next output.
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim variable as String
Console.Write("Please enter anything: ")
variable = Console.Readline()
Console.Writeline("You entered " & variable)
End Sub
End Module
The output looks like this:
Please enter anything: 12345
You entered 12345

Writing Classes
This is an application that shows how you can pass parameters and use classes. The difference between ByVal and ByRef must be known. ByVal means passing the object (method) the value of a variable, but not altering it. Hence, "By Value". ByRef stands for By Reference, and that means give the method the memory address so that it can operate directly on the variable. When you open the "new console application", click Project>Add Class... You will be asked for a name of your class, but I just kept mine Class1.vb. To access the class you created, you will need to create an object of the class: "Dim arithmetic As New Class1" allows me to access this class by writing arithmetic. and then a method the class. A constructor is a method in the class that is called as soon as I assign an object to it. In vB, they are created as objects called "New"
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim arithmetic As New Class1
Dim int1 As Integer
Dim int2 As Integer
Dim sum As Integer
Console.Write("Please enter the 1st integer: ")
int1 = Console.ReadLine()
Console.Write("Please enter the 2nd integer: ")
int2 = Console.ReadLine()
arithmetic.add(int1, int2, sum)
Console.WriteLine("The sum of " & int1 & " and " & int2 & " is: " & sum)
End Sub
End Module

This is the Class:

Public Class Class1
Public Sub New()
Console.WriteLine("Adding Machine (C)2006 money11465")
Console.WriteLine("----------------------------------")
End Sub
Public Sub add(ByRef x As Integer, ByRef y As Integer, ByRef z As Integer)
z = x + y
End Sub
End Class

The output looks like this:
Adding Machine (C)2006 money11465
------------------------------------
Please enter the 1st integer: 7
Please enter the 2nd integer: 8
The sum of 7 and 8 is: 15

Temperature conversion (If/Then/Else)

Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim choice as Integer
Dim tempf as Integer
Dim tempc as Integer
Console.Writeline("Would you like to:")
Console.Writeline("1. Convert *F to *C?")
Console.Writeline("2. Convert *C to *F?")
Console.Write("Please enter a choice: ")
choice = Console.Readline()
If (choice = 1) Then
Console.Write("What is the temperature in *F? ")
tempf = Console.Readline()
tempc = tempf - 32
tempc = tempc / 1.8
Console.Writeline(tempf & "*F is " & tempc & "*C.")
ElseIf (choice = 2) Then
Console.Write("What is the temperature in *C? ")
tempc = Console.Readline()
tempf = tempc * 1.8
tempf = tempf + 32
Console.Writeline(tempc & "*C is " & tempf & "*F.")
Else
Console.Writeline("You did not enter a valid choice.")
End If
End Sub
End Module
The output looks like this:
Would you like to:
1. Convert *F to *C?
2. Convert *C to *F?
Please enter a choice: 2
What is the temperature in *C? 25
25*C is 80*F.

Intro to GUI
A GUI is a Graphical User Interface (as most of you know). In vB, GUI elements are treated like objects.
Click New Project>Windows Application
Click on "Toolbox" in the upper left corner of your "window"
Drag two Labels, a Button, and a TextBox on to the form.
Arrange them however you like and click the first label, titled "Label1"
On the little window on the lower right corner of the screen, scroll down to Text and change to: "Enter Text to clone:"
Empty the Text field on Label2.
Change the text field on the button to "Clone!"
Double-click on the button.
You should see:
Public Class Form1
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

End Sub
End Class
Add to the empty area of Private Sub Button1_Click:
Label2.Text = TextBox1.Text
Run the program and enter some text into your textbox and hit Clone!
Guess what happens? It clones your text!

FrankenPC

DAMN good start!!!! Add some basic object references!