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Technology changes too quickly to avoid the sometimes tedious task of organizing the methods you choose for programming. The latest version of Visual Basic is full of so many features that many die-hard Visual Basic programmers still have not had time to digest it all. (These same feelings of being overwhelmed have been experienced by C++, Java, and Smalltalk programmers as well.) Given that you can usually handle only seven (plus or minus) points of complexity, it is strongly advisable to approach all your Visual Basic development efforts with the utmost organization and methodology. |
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Understanding the Ideal Visual Basic Project |
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Okay, so there are no ideal projects. However, there are some project environments that are closer to ideal than others. As with any project, a factor that will increase the chances of successfully delivering a product written in Visual Basic is to have access to a Visual Basic developer who has experience in the best features of Visual Basic, including its object-oriented programming features. Having a good library of classes and components is also helpful. That is, with preexisting classes and components, you not only reuse your code, you also reuse your labor, thereby minimizing the time it takes to develop the next solution. |
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As a Visual Basic developer, you want to be in the company of fellow Visual Basic developers, unless you have the guts to stand alone with programmers in more serious languages. Seriously, though, having team members who are unbiased with regard to programming languages helps you concentrate on the really important issue, which is to design and implement a quality solution to a persistent problem in the appropriate programming language. These days, Visual Basic is so powerful in both rapid application development and object-oriented programming simultaneously that you'll be able to speak proudly of being a Visual Basic developer. Coupled with the power in Visual Basic is the incredible time savings in delivering a serious solution to any complex problem, a fact that makes the language the most effective in minimizing wasted resources. |
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Finally, having a good manager, whether in a large bureaucratic corporation or a small start-up, is very critical. The next section discusses what qualities a manager should exhibit when managing a Visual Basic project. |
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Effectively Managing the Visual Basic Project |
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In the example earlier in this chapter, you read how the branch manager listened to everyone on the team. For better or for worse, a good Visual Basic project manager must give an ear to every comment and criticism, positive and negative. Like a judge, the project manager must determine the best approach without alienating too many team members. Of course, this doesn't mean that the project manager must be indecisive or vague. As with the branch manager, an effective manager must be willing to make sometimes unpopular, seemingly unwise decisions. |
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