Home > Articles > Programming > Windows Programming

Becoming a Professional VB.NET Developer with Style

How does a programmer work in a truly professional manner? Learn how to embody professionalism and quality in your VB.NET applications by observing standards, foundation, and structure.
This chapter is from the book

Walk into any dentist's office and you will probably find copies of Highlights for Children on various tables and magazine racks. As a child I would nervously bide my time behind the covers of this journal. As you may recall, every issue of Highlights has a cartoon series named "Goofus and Gallant." The panels of the strip present contrasting views of the lives of two young boys, Goofus, an incorrigible troublemaker, and Gallant, every mother's favorite child.

Goofus and Gallant are still the same ages they were decades ago, but what if they did grow up? Imagine that they are both in their early 30s and they both happen to be programmers (see Figures 1.1 and 1.2).

Figure 1.1Figure 1.1 Goofus starts writing code without putting much thought into the user's needs or his company's concerns.

Figure 1.2Figure 1.2 Gallant works with the user and his coworkers to design and implement the best software solution.

Goofus and Gallant truly represent the opposite ends of the selfishness continuum; most people fall somewhere in between these two extremes. Still, these two characters portray two paths that can be followed in many areas of life: the path of reckless selfishness and the path of thoughtful professionalism.

Although you purchased a book on programming style, you are really holding a book on professionalism. Without maintaining a professional demeanor in your programming endeavors, you will not create quality systems. Of course anyone can make something look good, but thoughtfulness and a concern for quality are requirements to make something, such as an application, good on its own. This volume begins the discussion of style with its most important focus: professionalism in programming.

What is professional programming? Is it holding down a job at a software company? Is it having "software engineer" or "programmer/analyst" printed on your business card? While professional programmers often have these things, they alone do not indicate who is truly professional. Professionalism is something that grows and lives inside the heart of the programmer. Good style flows from this wellspring of quality, affecting not only the programmer's applications, but his or her entire work ethic.

Programming in Visual Basic is fun because it is so simple to create a full-fledged Windows application. When you create, for instance, a new Visual Basic .NET Windows Application in the Visual Studio development environment, you are presented with a blank form that represents a fully functional Windows program (just press F5 to prove it). The programmer's job is to mold that core program into a useful and useable application. However, not all Visual Basic programs are created equal. Some applications exhibit the characteristics of a professional program. These characteristics include, but are not limited to, a consistent user interface, clearly defined usage, quality user documentation, and freedom from bugs. Other applications lack some or all of these features. There are many reasons for the existence of poor Visual Basic .NET programs.

  • Lack of planning. Active development of the application begins without careful consideration of the flow of the program, or the needs of the user.

  • Lack of skill or talent. One or more of the programmers or managers involved in the Visual Basic .NET project are not adequately prepared to meet the challenge of professional Visual Basic .NET application development.

  • Lack of training. Although those involved in the project are competent enough to complete the project, proper tools, training, and documentation are either unavailable or overlooked.

  • Lack of management. A disproportionate share of the burden of project management is placed on the shoulders of the programmer(s) instead of on management.

  • Lack of time. A predetermined implementation schedule fails to take into account the complexities of application development and deployment.

  • Lack of discipline. A clear set of rules, guidelines, and constraints, whether formal or informal, are placed neither on the management of the Visual Basic project nor on the activities of the programmers.

  • Lack of scope. New components of the project are added on a continual basis without proper analysis of needs or time requirements.

Any one of these symptoms can lead to the eventual downfall of a Visual Basic application. When several (or all) of these deficiencies are combined, failure is almost certain. However, these problems can all be prevented, and the chances of success substantially improved by applying the effective methods described in this book.

Goals of Professional Programming

Very few developers sit down before the keyboard simply to string random Visual Basic statements together. Rather, there is a purpose, a goal in writing a block of code. The primary goals of professional software development have to do with meeting the needs of various individuals and groups.

Meeting the Needs of the User

All applications are developed for one or more users. Sometimes you write a quick program simply for yourself, to fulfill an immediate processing requirement. At other times you are involved in large-scale, year-long development projects that will eventually be deployed to thousands of users. In both cases, your primary goal is to meet the needs of the user of the application. If you fail to provide the software that the user needs, you fail to deliver quality software, no matter how good it looks.

Computer users have a job to do, and your application automates that job process. The ultimate design goal of an application is to have the user forget that he or she is using a computer program, and instead, simply perform the desired problem-solving task. Your program should be a natural extension of the work flow that is already part of the user's business.

Meeting the Needs of Your Employer

Unless you are working for a nonprofit agency, there is a pretty good chance your company exists in order to make a profit. This holds true for both the self-employed and the multibillion-dollar corporation. Companies remain profitable by meeting the needs of their customers. You help fulfill both aspects of your company's mission by developing professional software applications.

Meeting your company's needs extends to your managers and coworkers as well. When you develop software in a professional manner, you help to advance the interests of all those around you.

Meeting the Needs of the Programmer

Looking after your own personal and professional needs will have a beneficial impact on your software development projects. If you are unhappy with your company or colleagues or dislike programming because you have to reinvent a methodology every time you start a new project, the quality of your work will likely suffer. However, if you receive satisfaction from your work and enjoy the process of programming high-quality Visual Basic .NET applications, that will shine through brightly in your finished products.

Software development allows for a wonderful mix of challenge and predictability. The challenge comes from stretching your skills into new, untried areas. The predictability comes from the standards that enable you to write consistent, high-quality applications. Some of these standards exist in the syntax of the Visual Basic language, and in the object model of the .NET Framework. Other standards are created from your own experience, or learned from external sources such as this book. When you expand your programming range by tackling technical challenges, and you learn and apply a rigorous programming methodology, the result will be top-notch programs and applications.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020