VB.NET Hello World Program

In the previous topic, we have installed Visual Studio 2019 and created a console-based project with the name MYConsoleApp1. Now in this project, we will create our Hello world VB.NET program.

A VB.NET define the following structure to create a program:

• Namespace declaration
• Procedure can be multiple
• Define a class or module
• Variables
• The Main procedure
• Statement and Expression
• Comments

Create a Hello_Program.vb file in MYConsoleApp1 project and write the following code:

Hello_Program.vb

Let's compile and run the above program by pressing the F5 key, we get the follwoiing output.

Output:

An Alternate method to compile and execute the VB.NET program

We can also compile and execute the VB.NET program using the Command prompt instead of using the Visual Studio IDE.

Step 1: After creating and saving the Hello_Program.vb file in the MYConsoleApp1 project, open the command prompt and execute the commands, as we have shown in the prompt.

In place of MYConsoleApp1you can write your project name.

Step 2: After that, write vbc Hello_Program.vb, as shown below.

Step 3: If there is no error found at compile-time, it transfers the control in the next line for generating the Hello_Pogram.exe file.

Step 4: Type Hello_Program to run the program. We get the following output.

Output:

Hello, Welcome to the world of VB.NET. 

Now we will understand the basic structure of the VB.NET program:

• In VB.NET programming, the first line of the program is "Import System", where Imports is a statement that inherit the system namespace. A System is a namespace that contains basic classes, reference data types, events, attributes, and various inbuilt functions that help to run the program.
• The Second line defines the Module It specifies the VB.NET filename. As we know, VB.NET language is a completely object-oriented language, so every program must contain a module or class in which you can write your program that contains data and procedures within the module.

• You can define more than one procedure in classes and modules. Generally, the procedure contains executable code to run. A procedure may contain the following function:
  • Function
  • Operator
  • Sub
  • Get
  • Set
  • AddHandler
  • RemoveHandler
• Every program must contain a Main() method. In VB.NET, there is a Main() method or procedure that represents the starting point to execute a program, as we have seen in C language, their entry point is the main() function.
• A comment (') symbol is used to comment on a line that is ignored by the compiler in a program, and it is a good practice to use comments for a better understanding of the program.
• The Console.WriteLine() is a method of the console class. It is used to print any text or messages in the application. And the Console.ReadKey() is used to read a single character from the keyboard back to the Visual Studio IDE.

Create a VB.NET program using Windows Form

If you want to create a new Window-based project in Visual Studio, follow the steps given below:

Step 1. Start the Visual Studio IDE.

Step 2. To create a project, click on File -> choose-> New-> Project

The following window appears on the screen.

Step 3: Select Windows Forms App (.NET Framework) and click on the Next button.

Step 4: Provide the Project name and location to store the project file using the browse button in Location.

Step 5: Click on the Create button. The following window appears on the screen.

Step 6: Now double click on the middle area of Form1.vb (Design) file, it shows the following code.

Form1.vb

Step7: Save file as Form1.vb.

Step 8: To compile and run the Form1.vb file, press F5 button or Start button in Visual Studio. It shows the following output.