Visual basic net for shareware 1

[xxman]

Hi
I have a few shareware applications online now. One is a visual basic 6 app and the other is a Delphi app. Those applications were both developed by other programmers with some help from me...a beginner programmer.
My question is do you see any major problems with a shareware application developed in visual basic net. I would like to make a attempt at a shareware program but am wondering which language I should use. I have some experience with Delphi and just now VB net. I am impressed with the IDE of visual studio and the look and feel of the controls. Delphi`s interface and controls look outdated. My preference is for VB net. Its my concern regarding the size of the net framework. I`ve seen some posts and the programmers wonder if Delphi has any future. It seems alot of their newer versions have been buggy. Most have never upgraded and are still using Delphi 7 .

Thanks and Regards

 

[RiverGuy]

VB.Net would be an excellent language for modern shareware IMO.

The size of the framework could be a concern for some. For users with broadband, it wouldn't be much of an issue.

If you deploy with Click-Once deployment, you can easily configure your application to download and install the .Net framework to the user's PC, from Microsoft if needed, thereby providing a smaller file size for your application itself and convenience for users who already have the proper version of the .Net framework installed.

Click-once deployment is not ideal for all software delivery, however.

 

[xxman]

HI
I saw a website talking about the net framework size. Its not a confidence
builder. The size seems to be getting extreme.

http://www.west-wind.com/weblog/posts/292203.aspx

 

[RiverGuy]

I would not target the .Net framework 3.5 unless necessary. Many of the features added to 3.5 would not be included in a typical application. Here's a post which talks about how to target a specific framework version in VS2008.

http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2007/06/20/vs-2008-multi-targeting-support.aspx

 

[xxman]

HI
Thanks for providing info on the positive side. That make me feel better.

 

[Jasen]

I would also stick with the 2.0 Framework, just for sake of userbase. Everyone is going to need to install the framework eventually, everything MS puts out uses it, from Office to Silverlight, so most everyone is going to get it one way or another. Even my nVidia graphics drivers required it.
Vista comes with it pre-installed, and so will following OS versions, so I wouldn't worry about forcing the framework down user's throats, MS is doing that for you.

I also see no reason VB would be inappropriate for a shareware application. The modern versions are as powerful as most other languages, and it's easily learned.