Free Programming Downloads (VB6)

I am a big fan of retro programming (e.g. using outdated programming languages to write modern pieces of software). While there are many good ways to practice retro programming, my favorite tool is Visual Basic 6.0.

…Yes, VB6. You can stop laughing now.

I was first introduced to Visual Basic in the form of VB 4.0, way back in the era of choosing to compile a program as 16-bit or 32-bit. VB5 brought some much-needed improvements, and VB6 was largely a refinement of larger changes introduced in VB5. I continue to use VB6 on Windows 7, despite Microsoft dropping support mainstream support in 2005 and extended support in 2008.

When asked why I haven’t switched to a more modern language, the answer is simple – I program a LOT as part of my day job (primarily web programming). When I program as a hobby, I like to keep it as far removed from my paying work as possible. I suppose work on classic cars is a good analogy – there’s something nostalgic about VB6, and I like that. I don’t have a more logical explanation.

As an added bonus, VB code is practically pseudocode, making it easy to port VB functions to other languages. Even if you aren’t familiar with specific VB semantics, it’s hard to confuse the purpose of code like:

luminance = (222 * red + 707 * green + 71 * blue) \ 1000

Please note that all code on this site is released under a BSD-license. (That said, if you use this code in your own project, I’m always grateful for notification! Emails are easy to write!)

To help visitors navigate the large amount of code on this site, I’ve created the following directory.  I try to update this page as soon as a new project is uploaded, but if you cannot find what you are looking for please use the search box to the right.

Unless otherwise noted, all code is available in Visual Basic 6.0 format.

Tutorials

• VB Graphics Programming: An Introduction
• VB Graphics Programming: Part 1 – Pure VB (PSet and Point)
• VB Graphics Programming: Part 2 – Beginning API (GetPixel and SetPixel)
• VB Graphics Programming: Part 3 – Advanced API (GetBitmapBits/SetBitmapBits and GetDIBits/StretchDIBits)
• VB Graphics Programming: Part 4 – Advanced Optimizations

Bioinformatics Code

• Hidden Markov Models, the Viterbi Algorithm, and CpG Islands
• Artificial Life Simulator

Graphics Code

• Image Histograms Part 1 (histogram generation)
• Image Histograms Part 2 (stretching and equalizing)
• Image Edge Detection (real-time)
• Smooth Color Gradients (linear, real-time)
• Custom Image Filter Engine (real-time)
• Variable Alpha-Transparency (real-time)
• Image Curves Dialog (via cubic splines in real-time)
• Image Levels Dialog (input / output / midtone in real-time)
• Blacklight Effect (real-time)
• Sepia / “Antique” Effect (real-time)
• Filling Contiguous Image Regions (via ExtFloodFill)
• Color-Shifting (real-time)
• Nature-Inspired Image Filters
• Bilinear Image Resampling
• Screen Capturing
• Image Contrast (real-time)
• Drawing the Mandelbrot Set / Fractal
• Emboss / Engrave / Relief Filters (real-time)
• Stained Glass Effect / Polygon-Based Image Randomization
• Colorize an image (real-time)
• Diffuse (Spread) Image Filter (real-time)
• Seven grayscale conversion algorithms (real-time)

Game Code

• Basic Game Physics (Velocity and Acceleration)
• Tile-Based Map Editor
• Mathematically Generated Fire v2 (v1 available here)