My first VB.net Program...give her a test!

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10-12-2002, 10:26 PM
clifgriffin

My first VB.net Program...give her a test!

:)<---denotes smile on my face.

Just wrote my first VB.net app...took me a couple a days but it is done with no bugs that I have noticed.

Basically what it is is a small application that checks my website (debategrounds.com) and downloads the 6 latest titles. It will automatically do this every 30 seconds or you can do it manually.

Give 'er a try! I need usability and bug testing.

Here's the catch though. This was written in VB.net...which means a lot of good, but it also means you have to have the .NET framework installed. It will also only run on Windows 98/NT4 and above.

If you have Visual Studio installed, or downloaded the .NET framework off of windows update, your good to go, otherwise you will have to download the .NET framework first. (About 20MB's)

This zip file includes both the App (dgiu1.exe) and the .NET framework (donNetFx.exe).

http://www.debategrounds.com/dgupdate.zip

If you already have .NET installed, download this file:

http://www.debategrounds.com/dgiu1.zip

A little bit of a hassle but I really want your feedback! ;)

Thanks in advance,
Clif

DISCLAIMER: This program is offered without warranty. If it destroys your computer, sets your grandmother's house on fire, and makes out with your wife...it isn't my fault!
10-12-2002, 11:05 PM
marcus_from_hell

how did you make the window "always on top" is that something you can do in vb6? :confused: nice prog though. ;)
10-12-2002, 11:20 PM
clifgriffin

Thanks. I'm sure you can do it in VB6 (although I've never used vb6). In VB.net it is simply a property of the Form.

I've never used anything so easy to program. This was like the ease of java for desktop applications...

Clif
10-13-2002, 07:56 AM
clifgriffin

Has anyone tested it in 98/ME yet?
10-13-2002, 08:12 AM
Markp.com

Quote:

Originally posted by clifgriffin
Has anyone tested it in 98/ME yet?

How big are the files? If they are small I'll test it on my wonderful ME system :D
10-13-2002, 08:30 AM
clifgriffin

My program is 40kb.

The .NET framework (which you'll need to run the software if you don't already have it installed) is 20 MB's.

If you can test it that'd be great. :)

Clif
10-13-2002, 10:03 AM
Markp.com

20megs is a little much for my 56k modem :)
10-13-2002, 10:26 AM
Sysdomatic

Tested it on ME here, worked fine, no problems. Cool little program if I do say so myself. I'm getting into the .net framework big time, already got asp.net down, working on C# and then VB.net. Good stuff.
10-13-2002, 01:18 PM
clifgriffin

Quote:

Originally posted by Sysdomatic
Tested it on ME here, worked fine, no problems. Cool little program if I do say so myself. I'm getting into the .net framework big time, already got asp.net down, working on C# and then VB.net. Good stuff.

Great! And thank you. :)

.NET really is awesome...there isn't anything out there like ASP.net, or vb and c#.

Microsoft has done a great job on this one.

Clif
10-13-2002, 01:21 PM
clifgriffin

Quote:

Originally posted by Markp.com
20megs is a little much for my 56k modem :)

I understand...no problem. :)
10-14-2002, 03:35 AM
clifgriffin

Okay...I've just added a few new features including:

-Task bar icon
-Sound notification
-Translucent window, etc...

If you already have the .NET framework...use this link...
http://www.debategrounds.com/dgiu1-1.zip(50kb)

If not, use this one:
http://www.debategrounds.com/dgupdate1-1.zip(20 MB's)

If you have time to download it, let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Clif
10-14-2002, 07:42 AM
NerdInside

Quote:

Originally posted by clifgriffin
.NET really is awesome...there isn't anything out there like ASP.net, or vb and c#.

There might not be anything like it, but that doesn't mean it's the best or even good.
10-14-2002, 09:35 AM
clifgriffin

Quote:

Originally posted by NerdInside
There might not be anything like it, but that doesn't mean it's the best or even good.

ASP was no better than PHP or JSP(uggh!) until ASP.net. If you use Visual Studio to program in ASP.net you literally have thousands of enhancements and features that make programming fun...they do the hard stuff and allow you to do what you want...program.

VB.net is an outstanding improvement over VB6, which I never really cared for. C# is the equivalent of VB.net with a java/c++ type language.

There really is no comparison...I could have never done this in another language at my current skill level.

Clif
10-14-2002, 09:47 AM
gerbick

C# uses the same syntax as Java. VB.NET is ok, but I don't like the fact that .NET bypasses the COM+ application layer, and talks directly to the CLR. Also, on FSO methods, the handling of users/permission rights is a bit clumsy.

things like XML.save - mostly outside of MSXML - is handled nice.

.NET is ok though... and btw, ASP.NET is not a language, but a scripting variation of either VB.NET or C#. and it's performance is still slower than PHP.

grifhiggins, good to see you programming. but... I hope that you're doing error capturing as well. if not... possible memory leaks on your VB.NET programs.
10-14-2002, 09:59 AM
clifgriffin

Yeah, I realize that about ASP.net...

About the speed...Technically it should be faster because the server compiles the page and holds the machine code in memory for quick execution next time.:confused:

I have all of my code in try and catch statements...so far so good on memory leaks. I've left it going non stop with no memory grabbing....evidently garbage collector does its job.

Clif
10-14-2002, 10:05 AM
gerbick

Quote:

Originally posted by clifgriffin
About the speed...Technically it should be faster because the server compiles the page and holds the machine code in memory for quick execution next time.

aspx files compile the code each and every time you use it... unless you are passing along variables that are non-hashed or non-paramaterized. and that's just unsafe.

you will see that .NET will force a compile, with a new GUID for each usage of ASP.NET pages.

thus... slow. it will only keep in memory that for each stateful operation or session. not for individual or unique sessions.
10-14-2002, 10:25 AM
clifgriffin

Quote:

Originally posted by gerbick
aspx files compile the code each and every time you use it... unless you are passing along variables that are non-hashed or non-paramaterized. and that's just unsafe.

you will see that .NET will force a compile, with a new GUID for each usage of ASP.NET pages.

thus... slow. it will only keep in memory that for each stateful operation or session. not for individual or unique sessions.

But there is noticeable changes from before and after compiling. (whatever degree it is doing) The first time you execute it takes a good 3-5 seconds before it download the page, the next time, it begins downloading immediately...until I change the code again...causing the server to have to recompile.

Clif
10-14-2002, 10:32 AM
gerbick

erm. sure.

and on that note... I'm exiting before it becomes another drawn out convo, where you will not admit you might be wrong.

keep up the good work, and I wish you well.

goodbye.
10-14-2002, 10:42 AM
clifgriffin

Quote:

Originally posted by gerbick
erm. sure.

and on that note... I'm exiting before it becomes another drawn out convo, where you will not admit you might be wrong.

keep up the good work, and I wish you well.

goodbye.

Cheers, but I learned what I know from a guy who wrote has written 3 books on ASP.net and is on his fourth.

Clif
10-14-2002, 11:09 AM
gerbick

name?

anyway, here's a quote/scenario:

Quote:

Originally from ASP.NET
*Compiled execution. ASP.NET is much faster than classic ASP, while preserving the "just hit save" update model of ASP. However, no explicit compile step is required! ASP.NET will automatically detect any changes, dynamically compile the files if needed, and store the compiled results to reuse for subsequent requests. Dynamic compilation ensures that your application is always up to date, and compiled execution makes it fast. Most applications migrated from classic ASP see a 3x to 5x increase in pages served.

ok, what this means is that it will recompile if it sees any type of changes to the program, variables, or methods that are being used. for instance, I have a web application where I'm saving my input as either an XML DOM object, or as an XML DOM with an associated Base64 MIME encoded file, or as a comma delimited *.txt file that will all ultimately be inserted into a MS SQL database.

well, depending on what methods I use and if I need to (which I do) pull from the database, there is a pause for the recompile if I use a different method between sessions due to the way that different methods are being used. I've gone the rounds with Microsoft about this one... and no answer outside of "it's the manner of the program/CLR"... go figure.

anyway, glad you know somebody that's writing books. which ones so I'll know which ones to look at?

but, if you're serving up the same stuff... it will not need to recompile. wish I was that lucky.
10-14-2002, 01:05 PM
clifgriffin

Rick Leinecker (you'll find more search results with Richard Leinecker)

He wrote Special Edition Using ASP.net, a book on beta 1 of the technology (trash now), and he is currently writing a book for Addison-Wessly on ASP.net performance which is expected to sell very well. (Will include a chapter on www.asp.net's forum and IBuySpy :))

In your opinion would ASP.net have a speed advantage over say PHP or JSP?

Clif
10-14-2002, 01:13 PM
gerbick

asp.net seems to be faster than JSP's, but PHP has the speed advantage...

honestly, a lot of the speed lies with IIS 5.0. Hopefully IIS 6.0 will not only be more secure, but faster. but I've seen zero speed enhancements in .NET Server... ugh.
10-14-2002, 01:22 PM
clifgriffin

Okay..moving along. . . :)

My 50 KB program is using anywhere from 4 to 16 mb's at any given time. The garbage collector dumps every once and while but I can't seem to keep the mem useage down outside of its occassional clean up.

I've experimented with ListBox.Dispose() etc..to no avail.

The thing is, I don't think this could be possibly leftovers from ListBox updates. I think it must be leftovers from it reading XML off the server that it doesn't want to let go.

Any ideas of clearing out this?

Thanks in advance,
Clif
10-18-2002, 01:08 AM
clifgriffin

Just released a more advanced version...with chat integrated.

http://www.debategrounds.com/dgiu.asp

The above page has all the instructions and a link to the download.

If anyone wants to try it out and give me feedback..I'd be greatful!

Clif
10-18-2002, 12:58 PM
jamiec

Quote:

Originally posted by gerbick
aspx files compile the code each and every time you use it... unless you are passing along variables that are non-hashed or non-paramaterized. and that's just unsafe.

you will see that .NET will force a compile, with a new GUID for each usage of ASP.NET pages.

thus... slow. it will only keep in memory that for each stateful operation or session. not for individual or unique sessions.

It only compiles the page if its the first time its been accessed or its been changed - technically it doesnt recompile the "page" it recompiles the code-behind

ASP.NET is heaps quicker than PHP, ASP, CF & PERL/CGI

ASP.NET and the .NET framework is much more scaleable than its counterparts

Nothing in .NET is "scripted" its all real code now ;)

As I said the other day - cool app.