Visual Basic 6: Error Coding and Layering

By Tyson Gill

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0130172278
• ISBN13: 9780130172273
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: Pearson P T R
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.8" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Engaging presentation of valuable techniques

One of the best programming books I have read - short, pithy and useful.The error coding technique proposed is clearly explained, and is proving practical and robust. Far from being cumbersome, as some reviewers suggest, it is easy to implement and helps avoid code bloat.There is a clearly specified framework for the technique, and useful guidelines about how the standards can be introduced, certified and sustained in a development team.As a bonus, there is a short but meaty section on an architectural approach which seems to offer a number of advantages over conventional tiered approaches.The text claims the approach has been used with success in several large commercial projects and this rings true - there is a strong sense that these are practical lessons learned at the coal-face and not in the ivory tower. Please don't be put off this book by the negative reviews below - they are somewhat baffling as most of the criticisms are factually incorrect. For example, the author does not ignore the importance of dlls in code reuse, does not ignore error logging, does not lock users into a text field using SETFOCUS, does not recommend always using named parameters etc etc. For whatever reason, these reviewers haven't given the book a fair reading.

Offers a real-world approach that is hard to argue with

Visual Basic is not my first choice of programming languages, precisely because it encourages very sloppy behavior and gives amateurs with only a little knowledge a dangerous sense of accomplishment :-). If you must use VB (and you must, for its exceedingly high productivity in writing Windows apps), this book offers a well-thought-out strategy for structuring your code. Primarily focused on error handling and prevention (because these are vital topics to VB programmers and VB offers little in the way of advice), the book also pounds the pulpit to "think long term" and write lasting, reusable code. (The choir heard the preacher the first time.) Among an absurdly large crowd of dreadful books on VB 6, I found "Error Coding and Layering" singularly useful and applicable to anyone writing Windows apps in VB.

Layering - very interesting architectural approach

I can't say a lot (I'm not a coder but involved with software architecture) about the specific VB error-coding tehniques recommended in the book, but there are plenty of them. The book is focused on error coding concepts and only uses VB to present some examples.Imho the code layering concept alone it's worth enough to buy and read the book. We are testing it now on a project and it looks as good in practice as it sound in theory.

A MUST for your collection

If you are the least bit interested in writing GREAT VB code then YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. I have read it twice without putting it down and plan to read it again soon. I have over 100 technical manuals in my library and this is the first that I have read cover to cover twice. I have also gone on a rampage at work to make it mandatory reading for our staff. Since 1,000 words is not nearly enough space to cover all of the benefits that I have gotten out of this book, you should really get it for yourself and find out what a great programmer you can be. WARNING: It will make you re-think how you program. and you will want to re-write everything you have ever written using Mr. Gill's simple strategies.

VB6 Error Handling, and so much more....

Every page I read made me wish for two more! Gill has managed to demonstrate in easily understandable words and examples a fully developed framework for creating solid, extensible, easily maintainable software systems. This book hits home across all boundaries of software development. Not just a must read, but a must do, for coders and management alike.