Next step

zavodney · August 3rd, 2011, 01:16 AM

I know I'm a month or two away from needing this but I have a tight budget so I'm asking this now. What would be the next book you would recommend after I finish this one? I've enjoyed this book and your helpful responses so please recommend one of your books if appropriate. Thank you.

Keith Z.

Rod Stephens · August 3rd, 2011, 10:26 AM

Hi Keith,

If you're pretty comfortable with things so far, try "Visual Basic 2010 Programmer's Reference" (http://www.vb-helper.com/vb_prog_ref.htm). It's less tutorial than "24-Hour Trainer" and contains a huge amount of information. I would work through it, experimenting with the topics it covers to see what you can do.

It will be harder than "24-Hour Trainer" but I'll still be here to help if you need it.

Eventually you may want to branch off into more specialized topics such as database design ("Beginning Database Design Solutions" http://www.vb-helper.com/db_design.htm) or database programming, WPF ("WPF Programmer's Reference" http://www.vb-helper.com/wpf_prog_ref.htm), phone development, game development, etc. I would work through "Programmer's Reference" or some other harder book first, though.

zavodney · August 3rd, 2011, 10:40 AM

Thank you. It's past my birthday and too far to Christmas so I have to put it in my budget.

Rod Stephens · August 3rd, 2011, 11:27 AM

It's the perfect Labor Day gift!

zavodney · August 3rd, 2011, 04:11 PM

Now that I think about it Sep 17 only comes once a year ... as well as Sep 18 and Sep 19, etc. I might have to just celebrate one of those days, or perhaps a different one or several of them.

Thanks again.

zavodney · September 19th, 2011, 11:28 PM

Well, I now have an Amazon.com gift certificate! I will be getting the VB 2010 Programmer's reference and 1 other book. Any suggestions for dealing with web pages? Thanks again.

Keith Z.

Rod Stephens · September 20th, 2011, 10:00 AM

I actually don't know what I would recommend for that. I haven't been keeping up on the web programming books.

One decision you may want to make it whether you want to look at WPF/Silverlight or ASP.NET. WPF/Silverlight produces a more engaging and interactive result but it's harder and less like VB so it will be more work.

Perhaps someone else who reads this forum has an idea? Or you could ask on other forums such as the MSDN forums.

zavodney · September 20th, 2011, 10:09 AM

Ok, thank you. I still have some chapters left in this book so I have time to investigate. Thanks again.

Keith Z.