Yes, we can all take jibes at VB's "security problems". Really, VB isn't any more or less secure than any other language (and it at least has a few things that give it an edge over C/C++, like garbage collection and array bounds checking). VBScript is another matter, but mostly because of having a broad execution environment, not because of the language itself.

Actually, VB has no more security holes than C#. They both get compiled to the CLR anyway. If there are any holes, it's in .NET, not VB.

Personally, I dislike VB for the same reason someone mentioned in a previous post about translating VB to Perl but not the other way around. The whole point of a language is that it represents ideas. The easier it is to represent complex ideas, the better the language. (Yeah, yeah. I know. "What about speed," you ask? I say it's a secondary concern, IMHO. CPUs are far cheaper than dev hours. Just ask Classmates. They migrated their entire code-base from Perl to JSP a couple years ago, and they've been universally hating it.)

VB can represent simple operations fairly well, but so can Perl. When you get into complex stuff, though, VB breaks down. I once tried to code in VB what took 1 line of Perl. I had to write two modules, define some classes and such, and add about 100 lines of code. It was an eye-openning experience.

As a basic example, both VB and C# compile to more or less the exact same CLR code. However, it's easier to express ideas in C# than VB. (Why else do you suppose most .NET devs prefer C#?)

Anyway, to answer the OP, I don't know of any VB-to-Perl translator. While it would be fairly simple for core VB, it would be a monumental task to deal with all the exceptions and add-ins. So why are you wanting a translator anyway? Do you need to port a legacy product from one language to the other? Do you need to embed Perl into VB, or VB into Perl? For the former, check with ActiveState.

EXACTLY

This is what I have found, simple Perl loops and routines takes ages to mimic in VBS. And What I can’t get over in the slowness of VBS!!!

I was offered a contract as VBS developer!!! They took me on based on my Perl knowledge. In my interview I was asked about general programming techniques and various OS knowledge which I had no problem answering. Then they got in to more detailed programming questions about VBS, here I informed that my VB knowledge only extends to WSH (which I only done through Perl). Then, the interviewers put to me various situation where a code is required and how I would go about generating the code, I answered as if I was doing it in Perl BUT without mentioning the word Perl, so they assumed that how its done in VBS! I have never written any VBS in my life. But I got the contract Thought! Now I have to find a way to get rid of all them VBS stuff (when I start with them in 2 weeks time) or I am screwed….:-D


Blackadder