What's in Microsoft.VisualBasic for C# Developers: Part 1 - An Introduction
This blog is part of a larger series. To find more parts in the series, please see the Series Index.
The .NET Framework is a large and complex system supporting many languages, and when I do battle with the gods of code, my weapon of choice is C#.
When you create a C# project, you get a reference to Microsoft.CSharp—and if you ever looked inside it, you’ll find it’s remarkably sparse: just two classes.
Like other languages, C# has a similar assembly—and if you’ve ever had the same thought I did, you might’ve assumed: "Those are just low-level language plumbing—nothing I’d want to use."
I was wrong again. While Microsoft.CSharp might not have much, Microsoft.VisualBasic isn’t just low-level plumbing—it’s a monolith of goodness!
WHOA THERE!
You might be asking: How can C# developers use an assembly written in VB.NET? The answer is: very easily! 😊
All assemblies compile to IL (Intermediate Language), meaning you can use any .NET assembly—regardless of its original language—in any language of your choice.
This blog series will explore some of the goodness available in this assembly. By the end, you’ll be a better, faster, and more productive C# developer—thanks to VB.NET!