VB6 Limitations?

[iago]

I was wondering if anybody knows what VB6's limitations are like (details below)?  I need to know this (fairly urgently) for a project. 

We're going to have to:
- Run large MySQL/MSSQL queries (on the order of 1,500,000 or more rows)
- Use a significant amount of memory (on the order of 2GB or more)
- Output a significant amount of data (2GB or more)

Does anybody know how well VB6 can handle that? 

(I'm NOT looking for alternatives right now, I'm looking for feasibility)

Thanks

[MyndFyre]

As long as you're dealing with connected data (a RecordSet), using MSSQL with that many rows will leave the load on MSSQL, not on VB.

If you use VB-specific language features (thing supported by its runtime library) or don't do native compilation you might run into trouble.  But other than that, you'll probably be okay.

You just have to remember - the best code in VB6 is generated when you're *not* thinking like a programmer.

[iago]

As long as you're dealing with connected data (a RecordSet), using MSSQL with that many rows will leave the load on MSSQL, not on VB.

They do have to be returned to VB, though, in memory or something..

If you use VB-specific language features (thing supported by its runtime library) or don't do native compilation you might run into trouble.  But other than that, you'll probably be okay.

I'll keep that in mind.  *note to self: find the proper way to use the file-write API*

You just have to remember - the best code in VB6 is generated when you're *not* thinking like a programmer.

The sad part is, I think you might be right... this project is going to SUCK.  But it's a HUGE paycheck, so we can't refuse....

[MyndFyre]

The sad part is, I think you might be right... this project is going to SUCK.  But it's a HUGE paycheck, so we can't refuse....

Why can't you do VB.NET?  I'm sure you'd enjoy the class library, it's not far off from Java.

And here's the way your record set will work (if I recall correctly... it's been about five years since I've used one of these).  You'll create a database connection, probably something like

Code: [Select]

Dim oCon As ADODB.Connection
Set oCon = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")

I don't know if there are specific ActiveX classes for MSSQL - I'm pretty sure everything goes through ADODB.

So after you set it up with a connection string and all that, then you'll create a RecordSet object.

Code: [Select]

Dim oRS As ADODB.RecordSet
Set oRS = CreateObject("ADODB.RecordSet")
oRS.Open "SELECT * FROM Lusers;", oConn

To enumerate rows you check the EOF property

Code: [Select]

While Not oRS.EOF
  ' Do shit
Wend


[iago]

Why can't you do VB.NET?  I'm sure you'd enjoy the class library, it's not far off from Java.

Because the customer demands VB6.  Apparently they have their own developers (probably some guy in the back who plays WoW) who would be able to maintain VB6 (ha!). 

[Sidoh]

Because the customer demands VB6.  Apparently they have their own developers (probably some guy in the back who plays WoW) who would be able to maintain VB6 (ha!). 

HAHAHA.  What a douchebag.

[Warrior]

Haha I can't stand VB6, I can't believe I used to program in it. It just seems so..iffy.

Is there even a powerful basic language?

[Sidoh]

Haha I can't stand VB6, I can't believe I used to program in it. It just seems so..iffy.

Is there even a powerful basic language?

VB .NET?

[AntiVirus]

Haha I can't stand VB6, I can't believe I used to program in it. It just seems so..iffy.

Is there even a powerful basic language?

VB .NET?

Is it really powerful?  I hate VB and VB .NET and I have hardly programmed in them.  Too many objects for me and not enough coding.

[Sidoh]

Is it really powerful?  I hate VB and VB .NET and I have hardly programmed in them.  Too many objects for me and not enough coding.

You clearly know little about VB .NET, then.   Remember: a biased opinion isn't a very good one! (haha)

To be honest, I don't know that much either, but what I do know is that it's object oriented, it has the same access to the .NET framework that C# does and that it's far less retraded than VB.

[Warrior]

Haha I can't stand VB6, I can't believe I used to program in it. It just seems so..iffy.

Is there even a powerful basic language?

VB .NET?

Goddamn you Sidoh! Always proving me wrong.

VB .NET is what VB should of been.

[AntiVirus]

Is it really powerful?  I hate VB and VB .NET and I have hardly programmed in them.  Too many objects for me and not enough coding.

You clearly know little about VB .NET, then.   Remember: a biased opinion isn't a very good one! (haha)

To be honest, I don't know that much either, but what I do know is that it's object oriented, it has the same access to the .NET framework that C# does and that it's far less retraded than VB.

It's true.  I do know *very* little of VB .NET.  I have only programmed in it once (only made a simple program) about 4 years ago.

I only followed the book, so I didn't really learn anything.

[Sidoh]

As you probably know, .NET languages compile into bytecode, so which .NET language you use doesn't make a huge difference.  So, in essence, VB .NET is about the same as C#, which I'm sure you'll hear from a number of people here (including myself, with the small experience I've had with it!) is a wonderful language.

[Warrior]

As you probably know, .NET languages compile into bytecode, so which .NET language you use doesn't make a huge difference.  So, in essence, VB .NET is about the same as C#, which I'm sure you'll hear from a number of people here (including myself, with the small experience I've had with it!) is a wonderful language.

Yep, C# is great. I hate not coding in it :/

[AntiVirus]

The only language on the .NET framework that I have tried is VB .NET.

[iago]

Ok, we know two things:
- VB6 sucks.  Ass. 
- I have to use VB6 on a huge upcoming project which'll probably be 4+ months
--------
- Life sucks. 


My company will probably earn a 6-digit sum for writing this, though, so I think I can live..

[AntiVirus]

Ok, we know two things:
- VB6 sucks.  Ass. 
- I have to use VB6 on a huge upcoming project which'll probably be 4+ months
--------
- Life sucks. 


My company will probably earn a 6-digit sum for writing this, though, so I think I can live..

Yeah..   I feel bad for you.   -ish

[Joe]

My theology on VB6 is that it makes a hard job easy but inefficient, and should be used when your development time is more important than your run efficiency. Every language has it's use, and learning programming is a nice use of VB. Sure, it can teach some bad habits (case insensitivity, non-explicit declarations) but it can teach basic principles (code seperation, scope). I can honestly say that I personally learned things in VB6 that I still use today in Java and C#.

Back on topic, VB can do anything C can, basically, except inline assembly and compile DLL's (which can be both done with sufficient tweaking, but I've never tried), but it's slow at doing it.

[rabbit]

It can't be compiled into machine code.  Owned.

[iago]

My theology on VB6 is that it makes a hard job easy but inefficient, and should be used when your development time is more important than your run efficiency. Every language has it's use, and learning programming is a nice use of VB. Sure, it can teach some bad habits (case insensitivity, non-explicit declarations) but it can teach basic principles (code seperation, scope). I can honestly say that I personally learned things in VB6 that I still use today in Java and C#.

Back on topic, VB can do anything C can, basically, except inline assembly and compile DLL's (which can be both done with sufficient tweaking, but I've never tried), but it's slow at doing it.

It makes a job hard for a decent programmer, because it's so painful to use.  It only makes a job easy for somebody who doesn't know what they're doing. 

It can't be compiled into machine code.  Owned.

Yes it can.  It's just done poorly and heavily relies on libraries.

[Sidoh]

My theology on VB6 is that it makes a hard job easy but inefficient, and should be used when your development time is more important than your run efficiency. Every language has it's use, and learning programming is a nice use of VB. Sure, it can teach some bad habits (case insensitivity, non-explicit declarations) but it can teach basic principles (code seperation, scope). I can honestly say that I personally learned things in VB6 that I still use today in Java and C#.

Theology is the study of religion...

Isn't that practice sort of obvious, though?  Any serious programmer knows the terrible aspects of VB6 and what a short time it takes to code a monstrosity.

Back on topic, VB can do anything C can, basically, except inline assembly and compile DLL's (which can be both done with sufficient tweaking, but I've never tried), but it's slow at doing it.

Big deal.  A buggy cart can travel as far as a Mercedes Benz, but that doesn't make the two comparable on that standard.

[MyndFyre]

Theology is the study of religion...

Have you ever read a programming book?  They talk about religious wars all the time...

[Sidoh]

Have you ever read a programming book?  They talk about religious wars all the time...

Hahahahah. <3

Edit: Ron, I have an idea.  Go onto Microsoft's website and sign the client up for massive amounts of spam regarding the .NET platform!