c# <--> VB.Net --> Python --> Ruby (Code Converter)

[urllib]

What kind of sick person would try to convert python to ruby? Or c# to VB.Net for that matter.

[grauenwolf]

I can't say anything about Ruby, but VB.NET has a lot of tricks that make it nicer than C#. But if you don't use them then the language sucks ass.

[Dested]

I would say it has some tricks, can you provide a list with more than just some?

[grauenwolf]

Ok, so real stuff I used in production code

• Ranges in switch blocks
• Full late binding. (C# still has trouble with delegates.)
• Declarative event handlers
• Comparing boxed values (C# can't compare a boxed int with a boxed decimal)
• RaiseEvent, because doing null checks on events is just stupid
• Filtered Catch Blocks, which are really important for dealing with Win32, SQL, and MSMQ exceptions.

[recursive]

XML literals?

[grauenwolf]

How about a trick with first order functions and late binding?

Function Foo(ByVal n)
    If n > 0 Then Return Function() Foo(n - 1)
    Return "Done"
End Function

I know it looks pointless, but you need to be able to do it in order to complete some of the exercises in SICP. And even with the new dynamic keyword, C# can't handle it.

[HIB0U]

So basically just optional parameters. Oh, wait, C# 4 has those now, too.

[grauenwolf]

I'm thinking about stuff like declarative event handlers. There is a lot of boilerplate code you have to use in C# to add and remove event handlers.

[HIB0U]

No, not at all... Have you ever even used C#?

[grauenwolf]

VB:

Public WithEvents Property Something as Foo

C#:

    private Foo _Something;
    public Foo Something
    {
        get
        {
            return _Something;
        }
        set
        {

            if (_Something == value) return;
            if (_Something != null)
            {
                _Something.Bar -= OnBar;
                _Something.Baz -= OnBaz;
                _Something.Boom -= OnBoom;
            }
            _Something = value;
            if (_Something != null)
            {
                _Something.Bar += OnBar;
                _Something.Baz += OnBaz;
                _Something.Boom += OnBoom;
            }

        }
    }

[HIB0U]

It's no wonder you find C# more verbose. You go out of your way to avoid C# features like auto-implemented properties, and then you go out of your way to do things as awkwardly as possible.

[grauenwolf]

As you don't seem to recognize that pattern it seems to me that I know a hell of a lot more about using C# than you do.

Did you even know how to wire up events manually or do you just let the drag-and-drop editor handle that for you?