visual basic equivalent for linux?

[realredpanda]

i know linux supports all the major languages but does it have a built in standard like that of vb in windows?

 

[kamper]

Well, being a unix clone, c is the 'built in' language. Not that vb is really built in to windows. If you're looking for something more vb-like, you can try out mono. There seems to be at least some support for vb.net.

 

[Evander]

never tried it but kbasic is cross platform:
http://www.kbasic.com/

 

[Nothinman]

i know linux supports all the major languages but does it have a built in standard like that of vb in windows?

VB isn't built into Windows unless you're talking about VB Script in the Windows Scripting Host. If that's the case the most common scripting languages used on Linux are sh/bash, perl and python. Virtually every distribution includes interpreters for all 3 of those.

Gambas is attempting to make something similar to VB but I've never actually heard of anyone using it. If you want a full fledged GUI development environment it would probably make more sense to look at Eclipse or Monodevelop.

 

[kamper]

Or if you just want drag-n-drop gui building: http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/
Also doesn't seem to be very complete but if they manage to replicate delphi it'll be very nice.

 

[Nothinman]

Also doesn't seem to be very complete but if they manage to replicate delphi it'll be very nice.

I thought Borland released a version of Delphi for Linux? And Monodevelop is starting to integrate a visual GUI builder now.

 

[xtknight]

There is always Python which is supposed to be decent for GNOME and applets development. I believe nearly every Linux distro has a Python interpreter installed by default.

I love Visual Basic and I too wish there was some alternative. Glade's GNOME dialog designer interface frustrates me. Eclipse feels bloated and slow, but apart from that there is no (free) dialog designer for it either. Visual Studio and Office are MS's best products. They really know what they're doing in those. Gambas looks promising but last time I tried it I had a lot of trouble installing it. I'll give it a shot again.

 

[kamper]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
I thought Borland released a version of Delphi for Linux?

Yeah, Kylix. But that died a long time ago and as far as I know, it was completely proprietary.

 

[Nothinman]

Yeah, Kylix. But that died a long time ago and as far as I know, it was completely proprietary.

I thought they released a GPL'd version too.

 

[tranceport]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

i know linux supports all the major languages but does it have a built in standard like that of vb in windows?

VB isn't built into Windows unless you're talking about VB Script in the Windows Scripting Host. If that's the case the most common scripting languages used on Linux are sh/bash, perl and python. Virtually every distribution includes interpreters for all 3 of those.

Gambas is attempting to make something similar to VB but I've never actually heard of anyone using it. If you want a full fledged GUI development environment it would probably make more sense to look at Eclipse or Monodevelop.

Best reply most likely....

I would like to add a question to the OP.

What is the criteria of the language selection?
What about Visual Basic are you liking and want in Linux?

 

[realredpanda]

vb is a very nice program for someone like me who is not really a programmer. unlike c or java it isn't worried about cross platforming or any real complex type things that open ended languages do, it just makes decent little apps for windows. i was just wondering if there was something like that for linux, simple and just for making lowend stuff on linux.

i figure it is kind of like model kits, some people like to glue and paint ww2 scale planes, i just wanna snap together some gundam kits and stick them on my desk.

 

[Nothinman]

Well with the release of VB.Net I think MS has made VB a pretty complete OO language so unless you're only talking about VB6 and earlier I think you're screwed on both platforms now. =)

Most people consider Python the quick and easy language for Linux and it can work for Windows too if you install ActivePython.

 

[kamper]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Yeah, Kylix. But that died a long time ago and as far as I know, it was completely proprietary.

I thought they released a GPL'd version too.

Interesting, I hadn't been aware of that. I certainly can't claim to know everything about it but my 15 minutes of googling suggests that it was only the libraries and not the ide that were gpl and that they were mostly intended as a teaser for the real thing. It seems to have died at about the same time. (See here).

And it's interesting to note that the libraries were gpl and not lgpl. Even the fsf isn't that crazy. I can only conclude that borland was never interested in giving the community any control, they just wanted to hook people. I suspect if the stuff was useful at all, the lazarus people would have picked it up. Maybe they did, I dunno.

 

[Nothinman]

They released it under the GPL to force you to GPL all of your apps with the free version, they also had a dual-licensed version that you could purchase if you didn't want to GPL your stuff.