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   ► KBTo/From GuidesVB.NetTool Basics  Print This     

Cross Ref > Tool Basics

By Mike Prestwood

VB.Net versus Delphi Prism: A side by side comparison between VB.Net and Delphi Prism.

 
Tool Basics
 

Developer environment basics such as common file extensions, common keyboard shortcuts, etc.

Deployment Overview

[Other Languages] 
VB.Net: 

VB.Net projects require the .Net framework and any additional dependencies you've added such as Crystal Reports.

In Visual Studio.Net, you can create a Setup and Deployment project by using any of the templates available on the New Project dialog (Other Project Types).

In addition, VB.Net projects also support ClickOnce which brings the ease of Web deployment to Windows Forms and console applications. To get started, right click on your solution in the Solution Explorer, click Properties then select the Security tab. 

In addition, you can use any of the many free and commercially available installation packages.

Delphi Prism: 

Prism projects require the .Net framework and any additional dependencies you've added such as Crystal Reports.

In Visual Studio.Net, you can create a Setup and Deployment project by using any of the templates available on the New Project dialog (Other Project Types).

Prism doesn't directly support ClickOnce. At least not yet. In other words, there isn't a Security tab on the solution properties dialog. To create a ClickOnce deploy package, search the internet for mage.exe and mageui.exe.

In addition, you can use any of the many free and commercially available installation packages.





Development Tools

[Other Languages] 

Languages Focus

Primary development tool(s) used to develop and debug code.

VB.Net: 

Microsoft Visual Basic Express Editions (as in Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition) and the full version of Microsoft Visual Studio.Net are the current primary tools. VB.Net is not compatible with VB Classic.

More Info / Comment  
Delphi Prism: 

Delphi.Net first shipped as a compiler only with Delphi 7. Delphi 8 is a .Net dedicated solution (no Win32) but was not clearly better than VS.Net so more developers moved to VS.Net and bypassed Delphi 8. Delphi for .Net shipped with Delphi 2005, 2006, and 2007 but languished because of a lack of development and VS.Net clearly implemented more .Net CLS features than Delphi for .Net. Delphi Prism (Oxygene) strives to keep pace and in some cases out pace C# and VB.Net using the Object Pascal language.

More Info / Comment




File Extensions

[Other Languages] 

Languages Focus

Common or primary file extensions used (not a complete list, just the basics).

VB.Net: 

Common source code file extensions include:

  • .SLN - Solution File. Contains solution specific information such as links to the projects within this solution.
  • .VBPROJ - VB.Net Project File. Contains project specific information in XML. When adding a file, it is added to the project file.
  • .VB -VB.Net source file.
  • .Designer.VB -VB.Net form file (a text resource file).
Syntax Example:
//Sample code snippet from the .vbproj project file:
<ItemGroup>
  <Compile Include="Cyborg.vb" />
  <Compile Include="Form1.vb">
    <SubType>Form</SubType>
  </Compile>
  //...
Delphi Prism: 

Delphi Prism common source code file extensions include:

  • .SLN - Solution File. Contains solution specific information such as links to the projects within this solution.
  • .Oxygene - Project File. Contains project specific information but this is not the Delphi-like project file Delphi developers are used to. This is the VS.Net project file.
  • Program.pas - This is the Delphi-like .dpr project-equivalent file and contains the Main method which is the entry point for the executable. All .NET projects except for DLLs needs one.
  • .pas - Delphi Prism source file (same extension as Delphi for Win32).
  • .Designer.pas - Prism form file (a text resource file).
More Info / Comment




Overview and History

[Other Languages] 
VB.Net: 

Language Overview: VB.Net is an OOP language (no global functions or variables). You code using a fully OOP approach (everything is in a class).

Target Platforms: VB.Net is most suitable for creating .Net Framework applications. This includes desktop business application using WinForms and websites using WebForms.

More Info / Comment
Delphi Prism: 

Language Overview: Prism is a type safe language and a fully OOP language (no global functions or variables except for a very special __Global class). You code using a fully OOP approach (everything is in a class) but you have the additional benefit of a hybrid language using a special __Global class. Prism targets the .Net CLR and Mono. Based on Borland's original work with Delphi.Net and then continued by RemObjects as Oxygene, and now co-developed by CodeGear and RemObjects.

Target Platforms: Delphi Prism is most suitable for creating .Net Framework applications. This includes desktop business application using WinForms and websites using WebForms.

More Info / Comment




Report Tools Overview

[Other Languages] 

Languages Focus

Built-In: Some development tools have a reporting tool built-in and some do not. For example, typically desktop databases such as Paradox and Access have a built-in reporting tool and typically that reporting tool is used with nearly every application built with it. A built-in reporting tool makes development of reports across many clients and applications consistent and therefore easy.

Add-On: Development tools that do not have a built-in reporting tool need to use either a currently bundled report writer, or one of the popular reporting tools that integrates well with the development tool. For example, popular reporting tools include Crystal Reports, ReportBuilder, and MS SQL Reporting Services (tied to MS SQL).

VB.Net: 

Microsoft includes ReportViewer Starting with Visual Studio 2005. You can even surface this .Net solution in your VB Classic application if you wish.

For WebForm applications the client target is the browser (a document interfaced GUI), a common solution is to simply output an HTML formatted page with black text and a white background (not much control but it does work for some situations).

For WinForm applications, Crystal Reports is still very popular with VB.Net developers because it has been bundled with Visual Basic since VB 3, it's overall popularity, and compatibility with many different development tools.

Delphi Prism: 

For WebForm applications the client target is the browser (a document interfaced GUI), a common solution is to simply output an HTML formatted page with black text and a white background (not much control but it does work for some situations).

For WinForm applications Rave Reports and Crystal Reports are very popular with Delphi Prism and Delphi for .Net developers.

More Info / Comment




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