Recommend New Prog. language To try.

[spenz]

Been thinking about this for a few days.

I think i want to try to learn new programming language besides Access 2007.

Not that i found Access insufficient for my needs, in fact, it's the other way around. Access has been great so far and it's just right for what i need as of the moment. Maybe i just want to try and poke around on other language just to learn something new and gain new experience. I don't intend to abandon access of course, I haven't been even close to learning all the advance stuffs about it. I am after all just on the intermediate level if i can scale myself so far so my goal to learn new language is just to experience or try something new.

I remember the exhilarating moment when i am beginning to learn ACCESS it's a fantastic experience and should i say addicting. I am looking forward to recapture that moment.

So far ACCESS 2007 is the very first RDBMS i learned. So i guess i want to learn other language that will be based on ACCESS as my stepping stone. And iam looking forward to any of your recommendations. TIA!

 

[boblarson]

My suggestion -

Visual C#.NET

 

[Kryst51]

I have recently taken to learning php, although, I am still not sure if that is a separate language, and am learning that it requires other things like html, SQL, and javascript. But it is pretty fun, especially when you pull up a page on a browser and it looks and does what you want it to do.

 

[spenz]

My suggestion -

Visual C#.NET

Hi bob and thanks for suggesting!

I'd like to know if the program above requires internet to harness it's power because if it does, it's unfortunate for me because i don't have internet connection here. Place is kinda far from modern world.

So basically, i am looking at using the program on a LAN in the future maybe but definitely not connected through internet because i don't think this place will ever have one very soon.

By the way, Is this a relational database program like access? Does it need other language to function well? like you can use Backend for this and Frontend for that or is this exactly like access where it can standalone with the option of using other program like sql server or mysql as there BE if you want to.

 

[spenz]

I have recently taken to learning php, although, I am still not sure if that is a separate language, and am learning that it requires other things like html, SQL, and javascript. But it is pretty fun, especially when you pull up a page on a browser and it looks and does what you want it to do.

Thanks man!

I heard a lot of good things from php it's really really fun they say.
But sadly, i think i can't do php now because we have no internet connectivity offered here.

 

[Kryst51]

Thanks man!

I heard a lot of good things from php it's really really fun they say.
But sadly, i think i can't do php now because we have no internet connectivity offered here.

I am doing mine on our company's intranet, I don't know if that makes a difference to you, because I don't know if you need internet to have an intranet but it is enjoyable. I am using an SQL server backend.

 

[Banana]

Few clarifications.

You don't need an internet to program in *any* languages; you can even host a web server without an internet connectivity. It just won't be accessible by anyone else, and if you need to test in a browser for example, well, there's no place like 127.0.0.1 Furthermore, you don't need an internet to have a intranet (which is just another term for local network). In fact, I have a VM that's a practically server farm and a domain by all lonely itself, a true island unto itself.

As for programming language to learn... it actually depends. If you want to make lot of money, then learn COBOL. Yes, I'm serious, though I don't think they want to hire a kid over a old cooter who have been doing COBOL for years and years. OTOH, if you want freedom to express yourself, then learn Python. But if you want something more practical, any C-derivative languages will be good.

The fact is that most programmers know more than one languages and that's only because each language has their tasks they're better suited for. VBA is great when you just want to slap together some UI code and basic data manipulation without getting waist deep in pointers and linked lists. OTOH, game developers, especially those working on graphics absolutely depend on being able to manipulate the pointers without getting all encumbered in all those abstract objects.

Right tools for the right job. You may want to decide what is it you really need to know and choose the language based on that.

 

[spenz]

Few clarifications.

You don't need an internet to program in *any* languages; you can even host a web server without an internet connectivity. It just won't be accessible by anyone else, and if you need to test in a browser for example, well, there's no place like 127.0.0.1 Furthermore, you don't need an internet to have a intranet (which is just another term for local network). In fact, I have a VM that's a practically server farm and a domain by all lonely itself, a true island unto itself.

As for programming language to learn... it actually depends. If you want to make lot of money, then learn COBOL. Yes, I'm serious, though I don't think they want to hire a kid over a old cooter who have been doing COBOL for years and years. OTOH, if you want freedom to express yourself, then learn Python. But if you want something more practical, any C-derivative languages will be good.

The fact is that most programmers know more than one languages and that's only because each language has their tasks they're better suited for. VBA is great when you just want to slap together some UI code and basic data manipulation without getting waist deep in pointers and linked lists. OTOH, game developers, especially those working on graphics absolutely depend on being able to manipulate the pointers without getting all encumbered in all those abstract objects.

Right tools for the right job. You may want to decide what is it you really need to know and choose the language based on that.

Thanks for the clarification banana.I appreciate it. Maybe i am not clear on what i really want to learn. All i know is i wanted to broaden my knowledge on relational database programming one that is slightly step above Access 2007 that fits my current needs or situation. i don't want to overwhelm myself into learning something outside of this as of the moment and I want to do it one step at a time.

I am looking now into MySQL or Sql Server 2005 express maybe 2008 version but i noticed there's not enough books on it to learn yet so maybe 2005 version is ok enough if i want to experiment on it.. Plus this were also free..

 

[spenz]

I am doing mine on our company's intranet, I don't know if that makes a difference to you, because I don't know if you need internet to have an intranet but it is enjoyable. I am using an SQL server backend.

we only have 2 computers here and it's not even networked. btw, what frontend are you using together with SQL server as your backend?

 

[Kryst51]

I am using php and html in a web browser like Banana was talking about. I am just learning, it's a steeper learning curve than access and vba, but I think there is a lot more flexibility in what you can do with it.

 

[spenz]

Great! I think i'll consider trying php combined with mySQL as my backend. I heard mySQL is easier to learn than sql server so i guess i'll go with that.

 

[ChrisO]

There is another possibility…

Access 2010 has additional features that need a lot of exploring.
They are a sub-set of Access and, as such, don’t need to be used but show promise.

 

[genesis]

why did you arrive in the conclusion that access is insufficient for you already? What made it insufficient for you? On what aspects? I guess its the old thing issues.

 

[spenz]

There is another possibility…

Access 2010 has additional features that need a lot of exploring.
They are a sub-set of Access and, as such, don’t need to be used but show promise.

wow! yes that's something iam looking forward too man. but i heard it's almost the same as 2007 except for some features like the capability to edit ribbons without using third party program anymore or needing to learn xml. Iam not sure though.

 

[DCrake]

If you have not tried it the next step up is VB 6.0 I know it is a bit old fashioned but I use it regularly. Many may scorn my suggestion but it has its advantages over Access and communicates well with Access.

David

 

[Atomic Shrimp]

If C (or ++ or #) seems a bit daunting to start with, you could try Delphi - it's very similar to Visual Basic in terms of the form design and coding interface - the undelying language is Object Pascal - which could be described as C-like in its structure, but Basic-like in its command set.

 

[darbid]

My suggestion -
Visual C#.NET

If you have not tried it the next step up is VB 6.0 I know it is a bit old fashioned but I use it regularly. Many may scorn my suggestion but it has its advantages over Access and communicates well with Access.
David

Hi spenz,

I picked up VBA (Access in July 2008) I had played around with Word 2000 some time ago but this was the first time I really got into programming. I too smile at somethings that I achieve. VBA is like a good book to me - I cannot put it down till it works.

Your question is going to give you many many different opinions.

But I found myself in a similar situation to you. I wanted to broaden my language skills.

I have a girlfriend who works for a software house and she works mainly in Java with Oracle back ends. (eg for banks, BMW and Mercedes) But she has had one project in C#. (once again everyone has a different story to tell you but this is my influence)

You will find that some people believe that there are similarities between Java and C#.

Have a look at Microsoft Visual C# Express which is free to download and use. You can link it up (with some restriction) to a SQL backend, I have even linked it up to SQL Server 2000. That is about as far as I have got I have bought a couple of books on C# and I suppose have not progressed as I have not thought of a project to do. I think I want to make an updater with nice graphics for my MDB's.

But I have to agree with David above - I installed recently an old version of VB6.0 and have written Add-ons with it for Outlook, Word, Excel and Powerpoint which communicate with my databases. I have learnt a few things here to and Visual Basic is very similar to VBA.

From what I can see Microsoft is trying to make these Microsoft Visual programs your one stop PC/Microsoft programmers heaven. You can make add-ins - you can automate all your office programs - there are tools for database backends - there are tools for starting projects to make applications for mobile phones.

So if you want to make a little step in language then move on to VB.Net. but if you want to go one step further look at C#.net as suggested previously in this thread.

 

[spenz]

Thanks for your suggestions david, atomic and darbid!

I'll take a look at vb6.0 and visual c# and compare which is more adaptable for me.

My future target is I'll be using SQL server 2008 as backend and then whichever is more easier to connect/integrate well as frontend i'll stick to that.

As of now, iam using ACCESS 2007 as frontend; it's good but still I want to learn a better frontend than access. I know there are a lot that are way better in the market right now, but with so much to choose to it's becoming quite a chore finding one now. ^_^

Also, i was afraid that i could invest time learning this and that only to find out in the end that i cannot connect that particular frontend to the backend that i will be using out there or there is a compatibility issue with it. That could be a real bummer.. =/

 

[Banana]

it's good but still I want to learn a better frontend than access

I would have to argue that Access in fact is probably along the best front-end technology that we can have. Having had programmed in C#, I can tell you that the code to bind a form to a recordset is anywhere between zero lines to under than 20 lines for Access, whether you're using DAO or ADO. In C#, doing something similar would be 50+ lines with several objects required. Yes, C# is more flexible and I can do more but if they just want a simple data entry... why go to all trouble of writing those lines when it can be done much faster in Access/VBA.

Moreover, you may find this interesting

Mind, I'm not saying you shouldn't broaden your language sets; it's always a good idea, but doing it for wrong reasons isn't going to do anybody good.

 

[spenz]

Cool access 2010 article banana! thanks for sharing it. Makes access fans like us really excited about it.

Whoa! i really didn't know access is one of the best front end out there. I only thought that the reason why so many uses access is because it's cheaper and easier to learn plus usually it's already bundled on some PC that are being sold as a package deal. ^_^

Basing from your last post, i guess i have to seriously consider TIME as a factor to evaluate if i will pursue on learning other application to replace access as our front end because clearly there is no simpler application than access as front end. And in actuality the complexity of business is the real determinable decisive factor and because it's really really small to start with, the gain to learn other difficult languages just to get taht 10-20% added flexibility may not be that great other than satisfying myself. law of diminishing return right. =)