Thread: Closest to VB.net?

What I am ideally looking for is something a close to VB.net 2005/2008 as possible; I've looked but can't find anything that comes close. I really like the IDE in Visual Studio (form designer part) and do well with the language.

I have tried C/C++ before but couldn't get to grips with it. I am however pretty fluent in BASIC (most variants), Java and PHP. And have dabbled with C#, Delphi, ASP, Pascal and JavaScript. I am perfectly fine with learning a new language but think I will have to avoid C/C++. The language would have to support compiling the source into a binary executable.

Almost everything I've made is in VB.net, but I would like to try and make sure any future stuff I program is cross-platform capable, it but remain Windows compatible as most users with stick with that, but I am not a fan of Windows and don't want to be one of the ones preventing them from switching to Linux at any point.

I know there's Mono/Wine out there but would like it to work natively where possible.

So is there anything anyone can recommend?

Don't dismiss Mono - it does work natively. Well, as natively as any .net language does on Windows - or Java for that matter.

Have you tried the eclipse IDE?

Standard C/C++ is probably the way to go, although it sounds like Java may be a better choice for your situation.

Good luck.