I have tried VB2 and VB6. It is an easy environment for Hardware Engineers or Hobbyists to program. It means easy to code unlike C++. Programs made with the new VB may not be compact or fast; but as it runs on a Virtual DotNet Machine and is bug-safe and may not hang/boot too. The DotNet was MS answer to Java of Sun. Even Java is a simple language and it seems to be lighter too. DotNet of late has become a bigger download, more than 10 times the size it started with.
MS can try Visual Basic Webapp on the Cloud using HTML5. Even remotely hosted DotNet is better, with the VB Apps as Web Applications using DotNet WebService. Then nothing to download, neither the update or the security fixes. Just provide something like jQuery for DotNet. Web VB would be a better thing for developers.
Its possible, i have collected many WebApps here, Dact Apps – Web Applications for an Engineer or Hobbyist
Arduino is a QuickStart Embedded system, very useful in learning both the hardware and software elements of a system. “http://flakelabs.com/”>Michael of Flakelabs is started using the .Net Micro Framework. This is something like an OS for a
Small HandHeld Device.
4.1 release, the .NET Micro Framework enables developers to create powerful embedded systems that are more securely connected through a variety of wired and wireless protocols. The 4.1 release is also the first release under the Apache 2.0 license.
From what i understand, the developed app can be burned into the device fully, no additional layer of OS or Firmware needed, It is all built in. In short the compiled binary can be either a stand-alone firmware(OS) or be a layer running over a Mobile OS.
Now putting Ardunio and VB together, we get an Hardware/Software Environment that is easy on students and hobbyists too.
Fermata written by Andrew Craigie
Firmata is a generic protocol for communicating with microcontrollers from software on a host computer. It is intended to work with any host computer software package. See more examples ….
Arduino – Simple temperature monitor also see Visual C++ and Arduino
“Then for those that liked Java, He gave the Processing … thenceforward, the Inspired People made many Large Sketches and the Globe Glowed like Warm White LED Lamp”
(Processing is an IDE. It can also be used in Android mode, for that you will need Android SDK Installed.)
See this Steven’s Temperature Display and this Serial Comm using Processing. This compiles Java exe and Jar Applets. It can create programs for Windows, Linux and Mac.
Sketches remind me of Patterns, many learnt Java with Patterns; when Java was extremely popular.
In the Good old days it was like DotCom’ing the World, Later began a DotNet’ing the Planet. Here we can see a interesting pattern again today, an echo from the past.
Oh its Larry-n-Billy of Yore.
The Sky is blue and it is nice and Sunny.
The Software on the Cloud, is indeed very Funny.
