Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Fundamentals of Design and Programming – Starting from Scratch
- 2 Variables and Constants – A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
- 3 Writing Programs – First You Walk, Then You Run
- 4 Writing Programs II – More Controls and New Logic
- 5 Using If and Case – Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
- 6 Loops – Once Is Not Enough
- 7 Procedures and Functions – Divide and Conquer
- 8 Writing Programs III – Tying It All Together, So Far
- 9 File I/O – Files and Records and Fields, Oh My!
- 10 Arrays and Structures – Organizing Data
- 11 Events and More Controls – Tips and Tricks for Programming
- 12 Objects and Classes – Objects Are in a Class By Themselves
- 13 Graphics – The Visual (and Audio) Side of Visual Basic
- 14 LINQ to SQL – The World Runs on Databases
- 15 Crystal Reports – Tying Databases to Output
- Appendices
- Index
1 - Fundamentals of Design and Programming – Starting from Scratch
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Fundamentals of Design and Programming – Starting from Scratch
- 2 Variables and Constants – A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
- 3 Writing Programs – First You Walk, Then You Run
- 4 Writing Programs II – More Controls and New Logic
- 5 Using If and Case – Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
- 6 Loops – Once Is Not Enough
- 7 Procedures and Functions – Divide and Conquer
- 8 Writing Programs III – Tying It All Together, So Far
- 9 File I/O – Files and Records and Fields, Oh My!
- 10 Arrays and Structures – Organizing Data
- 11 Events and More Controls – Tips and Tricks for Programming
- 12 Objects and Classes – Objects Are in a Class By Themselves
- 13 Graphics – The Visual (and Audio) Side of Visual Basic
- 14 LINQ to SQL – The World Runs on Databases
- 15 Crystal Reports – Tying Databases to Output
- Appendices
- Index
Summary
VB Quip
Who cares how it works, just as long as it gives the right answer?
–Jeff ScholnikThat's a rather cavalier approach for anyone to take, especially when computers are involved. Knowledge is power and the more you know, the greater your power. One book isn't enough to give you all-consuming power, especially over a tool as powerful as a computer. It is, however, enough to get you started. One book won't turn you into a nerd that looks at his own shoes when talking, lives on caffeine and stale snack cakes, and would rather hack on a computer than go out on a date. That's just a stereotype perpetuated by teen movies. While it does fit a few people, almost all of the ones I know are smart, articulate, funny, and just all-around bright and inquisitive people. Above all, they're curious. And the best are curious about nearly everything, not just computers. How does it work? What happens when I try this? What if…?
Programming is, above all else, about thinking and problem-solving. If for no other reason, it's useful because it makes you think about thinking and makes you describe how to solve a problem. For the computer to solve a problem, even simple tasks must be explained in great detail. For someone to explain the rules to a computer – in other words, to write a program – takes a great deal of thinking and understanding.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Programming in Visual Basic 2010The Very Beginner's Guide, pp. 1 - 35Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010