Application Development

Abstract

This chapter covers some of the general features and functionality found in Visual Basic .NET 9.0 and Visual Studio 2008. The recipes in this chapter cover the following:

• Using the VB .NET command-line compiler to build console and Windows Forms applications (recipes 1-1 and 1-2)

• Creating and using code modules and libraries (recipes 1-3 and 1-4)

• Compiling and embedding a string resource file (recipe 1-5)

• Compiling applications using MSBuild.exe (recipe 1-6)

• Accessing command-line arguments from within your applications (recipe 1-7)

• Using compiler directives and attributes to selectively include code at build time (recipe 1-8)

• Manipulating the appearance of the console (recipe 1-9)

• Accessing program elements built in other languages whose names conflict with VB .NET keywords (recipe 1-10)

• Giving assemblies strong names and verifying strong-named assemblies (recipes 1-11, 1-12, 1-13, and 1-14)

• Signing an assembly with a Microsoft Authenticode digital signature (recipes 1-15 and 1-16)

• Managing the shared assemblies that are stored in the global assembly cache (recipe 1-17)

• Making your assembly more difficult to decompile (recipe 1-18)

• Understanding the basic functionality required to use Language Integrated Query (LINQ) (recipes 1-19, 1-20, 1-21, 1-22, and 1-23)