Visual Basic

Visual Basic began with a simple idea: making Windows programming accessible to a broader audience than just C or assembly language experts. In May 1991, Microsoft made a major breakthrough by launching Visual Basic 1.0. For the first time, creating a graphical interface no longer required writing hundreds of lines of obscure code. All it took was dragging and dropping buttons, text boxes, and menus directly onto the screen.

This visual approach revolutionized established practices. Where previously one had to master the intricacies of the Windows API and manipulate complex structures, Visual Basic offered an intuitive logic: what you see on screen corresponds exactly to what the end user will see. A button placed in a corner of the window will appear in the same location in the finished application.

Microsoft didn’t stop there. In September 1992, a DOS version was released, attempting to transpose this ease of use into the text environment. Extended ASCII characters simulated graphical elements as best they could, but the experience was rudimentary compared to the Windows version.

Version 2.0 of November 1992 corrected initial flaws and accelerated program execution. The development environment gained fluidity, which encouraged even more programmers to take the plunge. With version 3.0 in summer 1993, Microsoft introduced a major innovation: direct database access. Integration with Access simplified the creation of management applications, a rapidly expanding market.

Visual Basic 4.0 was released in 1995. Windows 95 democratized 32-bit systems, and Microsoft adapted its language accordingly. This version navigated between two worlds: it generated 16-bit code for legacy systems while exploiting the capabilities of new 32-bit processors. Object-oriented programming made its appearance, timidly admittedly, but it opened new architectural perspectives.

Two years later, Visual Basic 5.0 definitively abandoned 16-bit support. This bold decision demonstrated Microsoft’s confidence in the future of 32-bit computing. Native compilation replaced traditional BASIC interpretation, significantly accelerating program execution. Developers discovered the ability to create their own reusable controls, paving the way for an ecosystem of third-party components.

Visual Basic 6.0, released mid-1998, ventured into web territory. Internet Explorer evolved into a full-fledged development platform, enabling the creation of hybrid applications blending desktop and web. This version enjoyed phenomenal success and still appears to be used in some companies, despite official support ending.

The new millennium brought us Visual Basic .NET in 2002. Microsoft executed a complete break with the past. Managed code, automatic memory management, and integration with the .NET Framework radically transformed the nature of the language. This abrupt transition unsettled part of the community, accustomed to the simplicity of previous versions.

Visual Basic .NET 2003 consolidated this new direction. Support for the .NET Compact Framework opened the doors to mobile development, which was confidential at that time. Microsoft provided automatic migration tools, but the transformation was often laborious.

In 2005, Microsoft simplified the nomenclature and dropped the .NET suffix. Visual Basic 2005 recovered part of its lost identity. The “Edit and Continue” feature revolutionized debugging by allowing real-time code modifications. The “My” namespace facilitated access to system resources, recapturing the spirit of simplicity from the early versions.

Subsequent versions accompanied the evolution of the .NET Framework: 2008 exploited version 3.5, 2010 relied on 4.0, 2012 used 4.5. Each iteration brought its share of technical improvements, but the essence of the language remained faithful to its initial mission: democratizing software development.

Event-driven programming constitutes the soul of Visual Basic. Unlike traditional programs that follow a linear path from beginning to end, Visual Basic applications operate at the rhythm of user interactions. A button click triggers a procedure, a keystroke activates another function. This reactive approach transforms the logic of programming.

This event-driven philosophy reflects the evolution of personal computing. Computers in the 1990s became increasingly interactive, and users expected responsive and intuitive interfaces. Visual Basic perfectly met this expectation by offering a development model aligned with this new reality.

The massive adoption of Visual Basic testifies to its relevance: by the late 1990s, nine out of ten Windows applications came from this environment. This dominance is explained by the explosion of the computer market, the standardization of Windows, and above all the accessibility of the language.

Visual Basic transformed the software development landscape by making the creation of Windows applications accessible to a much broader audience than just seasoned computer professionals. Accountants created their own management tools, engineers developed calculation applications, teachers programmed educational software. This democratization reshuffled the cards of the software industry.