On Thu, 16 May 2002 00:01:08 +1000, Roman Black wrote:

> Hi everyone, i'm looking for some advice. For years
> i've coded in Turbo C and some PC assembler, and
> now finally accepting that I need to start coding
> windows apps that run on other peoples computers. :o(
>
> Now after looking at C++ Builder and C# etc, it seems
> they are over complex and web-obsessed. I don't want
> to code large web databases, just small fast tools
> that run under windows and preferably small stand alone
> exe files, that draw graphics (charts etc) to the
> screen and control pins on the parallel port etc.
> I've always coded up simple tools where I can connect
> a PIC or other circuit to the par port and chart/measure timing on
> inputs and outputs etc.
>
> I've been playing with Delphi, the free 6.0 version,
> but not real happy with that either. Any suggestions
> from those of you that code up small simple tools?? :o) -Roman

   Gentlemen,
   let me add a few words to your lively discussion. (I counted
more the 20 postings in the thread "Best small windows developer
platform??")
   Roman asked for a strategic advice, as far as I understand.
The discussion goes about, in other words, what is better:
a horse or automobile as a vehicle. A horse really has some
advantages over an auto. It is lighter, it is easy to drive, it even
can climb mountains, ecological benefits and so on.
   But, folks, sorry, Gentlemen, (I'm trying not to offend anybody,
imagine 20 apologies in a row.) Roman needs an instrument for
making his living for years. Personally I have some doubts about
those stoned tools of Dinosaur Age being usefull in .net times.
   I'd rather recomend not to fear "over complex and web-obsessed"
tools.   You Can Make it if You Try, Roman.   The question should
be "How to optimize learning curve", I think.
   The best way, as for me, is to begin with programming MSComm
control from VB6 to work with peripheral devices. Then you can try
it with USB. When you feel  strong enough with it, you may wish to
encapsulate low-level logic in ActiveX component for further reusability.
   Then you can use this ActiveX in any application, supporting
Automation: Excel, Word, Access, Visio, Corel, and so on using
built in VBA. That old poor boy Bill, who created this stuff, is a great
man, sure. Imagine, you can draw PIC with MS Visio, including its
inernal structure, and then using In Circuit Debugger show all its
element's states on each step.
   The next jump would be to .net.

   Data processing available from VB by means of ADO is extremely
important even in this context. But it is another theme.

   You Can Make it if You Try, Roman.

   Good Luck.

   /\
--/  \  /\------------------------------------------->==>
      \/          Mike Singer

PS:   why "preferably small stand alone exe files"
      why not .xls, .doc, .vsd, .cdr ... to "draw graphics (charts etc)
      to the screen"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Thanks to James Newton, Dale Botkin & others for supporting this forum.

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList
mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu