IT Jobs: Visual Basic

JSP

What is the popularity of Visual Basic programming skills these days?
I see some jobs looking for this with .NET
in practise what are they actually looking for those with VB skills to do?
eg. to create windows forms for data entry?

Thanks in advance

Eoin

You might get a better answer in the development forum, but it could mean windows apps / web apps / business logic tiers etc.

VB.net is an evolution of classic VB, so it might not be the legacy VB they're looking for if they've specified .net

JSP

Thanks
I posted it here because I am more interested in how the programming language is actually applied in the workforce at the moment.
I have used VB to create Windows forms for data entry to Tables and similar programs.
Just wondering if there is a niche in the market and what type of companies need this skill, and what other skills they are looking to go along with this.

dvpower

VB is used for much the same kinds of business applications as VB.Net or C#, with maybe less emphasis on web apps and more on UI \ thick client apps.

Microsoft no longer support it, so it is a dying language.

boobar

JSP wrote: »

What is the popularity of Visual Basic programming skills these days?
I see some jobs looking for this with .NET
in practise what are they actually looking for those with VB skills to do?
eg. to create windows forms for data entry?

Thanks in advance

Rather than focussing on your current skill-set, why don't you look into this:

http://www.careerreboot.ie/

It's happening today and if you're in Sandyford it could be well worth checking out.

JSP

dvpower wrote: »

VB is used for much the same kinds of business applications as VB.Net or C#, with maybe less emphasis on web apps and more on UI \ thick client apps.

Microsoft no longer support it, so it is a dying language.

Thanks for the info.

Visual Basic was usually used to write Data Entry Forms for MS Excel.
Which language is now being used instead of VB for the same purpose?

boobar

JSP wrote: »

Thanks for the info.

Visual Basic is usually what is used to write Data Entry Forms for MS Excel.
Which language is now being used instead of VB?

It could be Vb.Net?

Java is popular also.

dvpower

JSP wrote: »

Thanks for the info.

Visual Basic was usually used to write Data Entry Forms for MS Excel.
Which language is now being used instead of VB for the same purpose?

Many companies I know who had a large VB codebase ported it to VB.net - that is the easiest transition. There are some code upgrade tools that make a reasonable stab at automating the upgrade.

If you are making the move from VB, I'd also consider C#

Tom Dunne

JSP wrote: »

Visual Basic was usually used to write Data Entry Forms for MS Excel.

Would that not be VBA - Visual Basic for Apps?

(I'm not a VB/VBA programmer, just something that struck me)

JSP

dvpower wrote: »

Many companies I know who had a large VB codebase ported it to VB.net - that is the easiest transition. There are some code upgrade tools that make a reasonable stab at automating the upgrade.

If you are making the move from VB, I'd also consider C#

Thanks
what would be a typical repertoire companies would look for in C#?
I already know how to code forms and do simple SQL select requests. What could I add to that to get work in this area?

dvpower

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Would that not be VBA - Visual Basic for Apps?

(I'm not a VB/VBA programmer, just something that struck me)

That does sound like VBA alright, although possible in VB6

dvpower

JSP wrote: »

Thanks
what would be a typical repertoire companies would look for in C#?
I already know how to code forms and do simple SQL select requests. What could I add to that to get work in this area?

C# is a general purpose business language so its a very broad question. Even for a junior dev role, employers would expect some level of proficiency across a reasonably broad swathe of the .NET framework and also solid knowledge of software engineering and OO principles.

Since you've done forms/db development, you might start with some Winforms and ADO.NET stuff. I'd also be looking at ASPX webforms (or ASP MVC). Get some basic communications knowledge (maybe put together a WCF web service). You should also look at the System.IO namespace and learn about reading and writing files and working with streams. [This is not an exhaustive list]

I think it would be difficult to get a C# dev job without some formal software engineering qualification, even with the current skills shortage. Have you considered a skills conversion course?

JSP

dvpower wrote: »

C# is a general purpose business language so its a very broad question. Even for a junior dev role, employers would expect some level of proficiency across a reasonably broad swathe of the .NET framework and also solid knowledge of software engineering and OO principles.

Since you've done forms/db development, you might start with some Winforms and ADO.NET stuff. I'd also be looking at ASPX webforms (or ASP MVC). Get some basic communications knowledge (maybe put together a WCF web service). You should also look at the System.IO namespace and learn about reading and writing files and working with streams. [This is not an exhaustive list]

Thanks for the suggestions.

JSP

I can write a basic WPF in C# which can get SQL data and write it to a report, as well as update using SQL
Is this sufficient skill level in C# to be hired to work on a project?

jimmycrackcorm

JSP wrote: »

I can write a basic WCF in C# which can get SQL data and write it to a report, as well as update using SQL
Is this sufficient skill level in C# to be hired to work on a project?

If that is all then probably not. Can you present the data in a html form using JQuery for example as developers need to be multi-skilled?
VB development is outdated but there are still positions out there for it.

dvpower

JSP wrote: »

Is this sufficient skill level in C# to be hired to work on a project?

I wouldn't have thought so. Are you looking to get on a project team in your current organisation or are you looking to interview for dev jobs?

JSP

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

If that is all then probably not. Can you present the data in a html form using JQuery for example as developers need to be multi-skilled?
VB development is outdated but there are still positions out there for it.

Yes I know some JQuery for simple things,
basically having a form, clicking a button to get data from SQL and then writing back to the user in a report form.
This is easy enough to do.
Also data entry, filling in text boxes and writing to fields in Excel etc.
Other than this, what do companies look for as a basic minimum?

JSP

dvpower wrote: »

I wouldn't have thought so. Are you looking to get on a project team in your current organisation or are you looking to interview for dev jobs?

Just looking for steady work and from there I will learn whatever is available. I just need to update my skills i.e. practical experience

dvpower

JSP wrote: »

Just looking for steady work and from there I will learn whatever is available. I just need to update my skills i.e. practical experience

I think employers are looking for practical experience or a relevant IT qualification (or both) and it appears that you currently don't score highly on either.

You could consider doing some of the Microsoft MCP exams and maybe talking to some of the employment agencies who would have a feel for the jobs market.

JSP

dvpower wrote: »

I think employers are looking for practical experience

Well, aside from programming user interface forms for data entry and for reports (WPF / SQL etc)
what are some other common tasks accomplished via C# etc

dvpower

JSP wrote: »

Well, aside from programming user interface forms for data entry and for reports (WPF / SQL etc)
what are some other common tasks accomplished via C# etc

The very fact that you are asking this question indicates to me that you don't have practical exprience.

C# is a general purpose language, so practically any software can be written using it. Web sites, web applications, web services, windows services, windows forms applications - the list is virtually endless.

amen

what are some other common tasks accomplished via C# etc

basically any application you have on your pc (bar maybe graphic intensive games).

JSP

amen wrote: »

basically any application you have on your pc (bar maybe graphic intensive games).

Yes I understand.
What I mean is, what are the more COMMON tasks which employers or recruiters want to see in experience.

For example, I would think one of the top tasks they want to see is how to write a C# WPF which can get SQL reports
and can provide a forms user interface for data entry to update the SQL database.

What would be some other common tasks recruiters / employers like to see?

fret_wimp2

JSP wrote: »

Yes I understand.
What I mean is, what are the more COMMON tasks which employers or recruiters want to see in experience.

For example, I would think one of the top tasks they want to see is how to write a C# WPF which can get SQL reports
and can provide a forms user interface for data entry to update the SQL database.

What would be some other common tasks recruiters / employers like to see?

Im not sure that you do understand. Im not trying to be difficult here, but as stated many times, C# is a general language, and so can be used to develop pretty much anything (pretty much).

there is no list of 5 or 10 things you should be able to do in c# that will make an employer instantly want to hire you.

if an employer is looking for c# skills, they wont want someone with C# skills ONLY in connecting to databases, or ONLY in writing data to a file or ONLY in one or two areas.

You are expected to know C# & .NET, their capabilities, and even though you cant possibly have developed and have experience in everything, an employer needs to know that you are comfortable with the language and framework to figure out new problems.

If you want to get really specific on what an employer wants, check out some c# & .NET jobs online (irish jobs) and read between the lines. e.g. if the mention web apps that means you will probably need to be familiar with asp.net, web services and their various protocols, javascript, jquery, interfacing with databases and other data sources. thats just a small list.

I hope that helps clarify what others are trying to advise you of.

CricketDude

JSP wrote: »

I can write a basic WPF in C# which can get SQL data and write it to a report, as well as update using SQL
Is this sufficient skill level in C# to be hired to work on a project?

Thats like saying. I can say "hello", "goodbye" and "how are you?" in French. Is that sufficient for me to get a job as a translator?

If you went into an interview and said that, I think it would be a short interview.

You need to do more research.

JSP

there is no list of 5 or 10 things you should be able to do in c# that will make an employer instantly want to hire you.

I am not limited to C#.
What I am asking, is what are some examples of common tasks which generally would be a skillset to get hired.
For example, besides writing forms interfaces in C# which can get SQL , what might be some other common tasks which go along with that?

fret_wimp2

JSP wrote: »

I am not limited to C#.
What I am asking, is what are some examples of common tasks which generally would be a skillset to get hired.
For example, besides writing forms interfaces in C# which can get SQL , what might be some other common tasks which go along with that?

Take any c# .net development book, look at the contents and that's a start of an answer to your question.

It has been attempted to explain it to you, but if you have to ask what specific c# areas you need to cover, then your either looking at this the wrong way completely, or you just dont have the experience beyond someone who has been learning c# for a few weeks.

Best thing you can do is find an interesting job on Irish jobs or monster or wherever, ring upthe recruiter and ask them what are the job requirements.

Good luck

dvpower

OP, apart from asking on here, what other research have you done?

JSP

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

Best thing you can do is find an interesting job on Irish jobs or monster or wherever, ring upthe recruiter and ask them what are the job requirements.

Good luck

Thanks
I have been trying to find out more through the job search of course but was wondering if some more experienced C# programmers could give some hints along the lines of which tasks are more common to the job market,
such as the tasks I mentioned above.
Thanks

amen

But you see it depends on where your work and what your job is.

I use C#to write server side components for a web based application.

The components can be for complex calculations, new web services, integrating with third party vendors for APIs, connecting to databases, generating reports, streaming data, manipulating incoming streams etc.

I have friends who use C# for modelling network data, desktop apps etc

JSP

amen wrote: »

use C#to write server side components for a web based application.

The components can be for complex calculations, new web services, integrating with third party vendors for APIs, connecting to databases, generating reports, streaming data, manipulating incoming streams etc.

Would the above job description be called "Application Support" ?
or what would be the job title in the current job market?
Thanks in advance

CricketDude

JSP wrote: »

Would the above job description be called "Application Support" ?
or what would be the job title in the current job market?
Thanks in advance

Everybody here is trying to help you but you are just not "getting it" at all.
If you went into an interview asking the questions you are asking here you would be out the door straight away.

Go and do some research yourself, as you are not listening to people here.
I think you are a very long way away from where you need to be to get a development job.

dvpower

CricketDude wrote: »

I think you are a very long way away from where you need to be to get a development job.

+1

OP, you seem to have been asking the same question over and over here and on another thread, but not listening to the information you're been given.

As someone who hires devs, my impression is that you are nowhere near ready for a professional development job.

BostonB

JSP wrote: »

Thanks
I posted it here because I am more interested in how the programming language is actually applied in the workforce at the moment.
I have used VB to create Windows forms for data entry to Tables and similar programs.
Just wondering if there is a niche in the market and what type of companies need this skill, and what other skills they are looking to go along with this.

You don't understand the replies here because you haven't the skillset. No where is looking for anyone with such a basic skillset. You need to go off and do courses and qualifications in development/programming.

JSP

BostonB wrote: »

You don't understand the replies here because you haven't the skillset. No where is looking for anyone with such a basic skillset. You need to go off and do courses and qualifications in development/programming.

I understand the replies. Data entry forms with sql queries is not the extent of my skillset. I am also doing some of what was described above, but not yet in C#. My job includes development but not full time.

Spacedog

.NET typically used for business process applications, E.g. taking data from a DB, flat file, excel sheet, XML source etc. performing some form of processing on said data, and putting it on to either another function, file, DB sheet etc.

JSP

Spacedog wrote: »

.NET typically used for business process applications, E.g. taking data from a DB, flat file, excel sheet, XML source etc. performing some form of processing on said data, and putting it on to either another function, file, DB sheet etc.

That is part of what I do.
I was wondering what other tasks I do which overlap with development and how I should describe them on my CV

BostonB

JSP wrote: »

I understand the replies. Data entry forms with sql queries is not the extent of my skillset. I am also doing some of what was described above, but not yet in C#. My job includes development but not full time.

How can you get an answer based on your skillset, without giving your skillset ? The jobs ads spec's are pretty self explanatory. I don't see how you don't understand them unless you've not got a development background/skillset.