Article by Ayman Alheraki in October 1 2024 03:36 PM
Visual Basic, an extension of the BASIC language that originated in the 1960s, gained immense popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s. It evolved into Visual Basic .NET following the introduction of Microsoft’s .NET Framework. However, in recent years, Microsoft announced the gradual phasing out of Visual Basic by ending active support for the language. This decision has raised questions about why Microsoft retired such a widely used language.
BASIC (Beginner’s All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) was developed in the late 1960s with the aim of making programming accessible to beginners. Over the years, Visual Basic emerged in 1991, offering a user-friendly interface for developing Graphical User Interface (GUI) applications. It became a favorite among developers and companies for building Windows applications.
In 2002, Visual Basic .NET was launched as part of the .NET ecosystem, integrating with other languages like C# and leveraging the .NET infrastructure. This marked a significant upgrade, but Visual Basic’s future began to wane as other languages rose to prominence.
Despite its success, several factors contributed to Microsoft’s decision to phase out Visual Basic:
Technological Challenges and Competition: As the software industry advanced, languages like C# became more flexible and robust, capable of adapting to modern needs. Visual Basic, despite its historical significance, couldn’t keep pace with these innovations, leading to its decline.
Lack of Innovation and Updates: Visual Basic did not receive the same level of attention or updates compared to languages like C# within the .NET ecosystem. Microsoft’s focus shifted to making C# the primary language for .NET development, leaving Visual Basic outdated.
Limited Cross-Platform Support: With the rise of mobile devices and the need for cross-platform development, Visual Basic struggled to provide comprehensive support for operating systems like iOS and Android. Other languages like C# gained prominence, especially with tools like Xamarin that enabled cross-platform development.
Focus on Future Technologies: Microsoft began investing heavily in emerging areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud development. These fields require modern programming languages that are versatile and adaptive, which Visual Basic could not achieve effectively.
Although Microsoft has announced the gradual retirement of Visual Basic, developers can still use it for maintaining legacy applications. However, no new features will be added, meaning the language will struggle to keep up with modern programming needs. Microsoft has reassured users that it will continue supporting existing Visual Basic applications, but no substantial updates are planned.
Microsoft’s decision to retire Visual Basic stemmed from various technical and practical factors. As technology rapidly evolves, modern programming languages like C# and Python provide more flexible and powerful solutions for developers. While Visual Basic remains an important part of programming history, its time has passed as the world shifts towards more modern and dynamic languages.
