There are a number of programming languages and methodologies around today. We program almost exclusively in three languages, Visual Basic, C# and Prolog.
Wherever possible we use object oriented methodologies. Here is a brief description of what these are and why we use them.
Visual Basic has gone through many implementations. The current version is VB 7, or VB .NET. Many programmers have scoffed at using Visual Basic, claiming it is little more than a toy. That may have been true once, but VB has been successfully used in commercial applications since version 3.
The current version bears little resemblance to earlier versions and is now a robust, commercial grade programming environment.
Visual Basic, along with the other programming languages in the .NET family all rely on the .NET Framework being installed on the computer running the application. This is available for all versions of Windows from 98 onwards, and is a standard component in Windows 2000, Windows XP and Vista although, except in the case of Vista, it isn't installed by default.
Microsoft's latest version of Windows called Vista relies heavily on the .NET Framework.
What that means for you is that if you run Windows, and most PCs do, then programs written for the .NET Framework will be optimised for future versions of Windows.
It also means that a lot of programmers will learn to program within the .NET environment. So your programs written today will be able to be maintained by main stream programmers.
Because Visual Basic is easier to learn than some other languages there are a lot of competent VB programmers around. And that also means that future upgrades and maintenance are easily obtained.
We also program in Visual Basic 6. This is the previous version of Visual Basic, and for some applications it can be a better choice.
C# is a new language produced by Microsoft to run on the .NET Framework. It is based on the long established language, C, and for some applications or components it is a better language than VB. C# is fast becoming the language of choice for most Windows programmers. It is overtaking Visual Basic as the most popular programming language for Windows applications, and with the enhancements announced for the next release it is likely to become the language we use for most of our programming.
Prolog was developed as an Artificial Intelligence language but has never gained the same popularity for commercial applications as the other languages mentioned.
Prolog is useful, however, in rule based systems, such as expert systems. While we don't write many applications entirely in Prolog, there are occasions when Prolog components are a worthwhile option.
Where possible we use an object oriented methodology. Without delving into what that entails, it should be said that there has been a great deal of argument over recent times as to whether it delivers the benefits it promised. However, most of this discussion takes place between academicsb but it is possible that over the next few years other technologies will surpass it.
However, at the present time it is being pushed by Microsoft and if you are running Windows it is best to follow the Microsoft line. The .NET Framework mentioned above is object oriented, and it is being taught in most IT courses so new programmers are used to it.
It also has the advantage, in my opinion, that a lot of code is reusable. That means that we have blocks of code that can be used in your application that don't need to be re-written or analysed. And that saves you money.
Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done.