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    Programming

    Just what languages would I do well to learn in order to be really good with HS? I saw mention of ASP though I havent programmed in such a long time I worry I may know nothing. I can usually read a programs code and understand its workings. Is the ASP.net good for making the scripts for HS? I havent gotten HS yet because I wanted to make sure that I had a good idea of what I wanted to do with it. and I want to make sure that I know what I am doing when I use it (as far as needing to write scripts if necesary). any help as to which languages I should learn or relearn and any reference materials (names of books, web pages ect) would be greatly appreciated. HomeSeer is now on my wishlist of things to buy. I am gonig to save back some cash and buy it here soon. thanks in advance for the help and advice

    #2
    Well, there are a number of options for programming languages. I'll list what I believe to be a pretty comprehensive list, but others may know of more.

    For scripts (from HS web help):
    HomeSeer runs scripts created in VBScript, JScript, PERLScript, Visual Basic .NET, C#, and Python. Only VBScript and JScript are installed with HomeSeer. All other scripting languages must be installed separatelly.

    From the above though, I know people haven't been able to C# scripting working (it isn't offically a scripting language but there are some ways to make it work as such). VBScript and VB.NET Script I have heard specifically ARE working properly.

    For plug-ins, I know VB6, VB.NET, and C# is working (though I think its safe to say ANY .NET language will work as well).

    With the above choices and the direction of HS moving to .NET, I would probably suggest learning VB.NET as it can be used for scripts and plug-ins. I prefer C#, but that is just a preference thing (if you know either VB.NET or C# the other is very easy to pick up).

    Basically, I'd say VB6 or VB.NET, but more and more stuff will probably be moving to .NET so VB6 may not be the best choice if you just now learning it so VB.NET probably wins as best choice to learn for HS right now.

    Hopefully others will correct any options I missed and let you know thier thoughts as well, but if I was just wanting to learn one language and the main thing I'd be using it for was HS, I'd certainly go with VB.NET.

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      #3
      Thanks for the insite. I wil definately get a good book on vb.net. any recommendations? Like I said I havent programed (other than html) in about 4 years so I am a bit rusty. Languages I wrote in were C++ and basic; So learning Vbasic.net will hopefully not be too painfull. Along the same lines of a good book, know of a good program to start out using to program in VB.net?

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        #4
        For books I really wouldn't want to make any suggestions as I use C# and have only looked at a few VB.NET books which were a bit advanced. I'm sure others can help, or what I usually do is go to Amazon.com (even if you don't want to buy from there) and do a search for VB.NET and read some reviews to get an idea of what others think. Note HS currently uses the .NET framework ver 1.1 (2003). If you see any references about 2.0 (or 2005) that is the new version which wouldn't be as much help to you.

        Besides books here are some great resources:
        http://samples.gotdotnet.com/quickstart/ has lots of tutorials and walk throughs in both VB.NET and C#

        http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en 101 VB.NET and C# code samples

        http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...k_netstart.asp .NET 1.1 SDK reference

        http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...bSpecStart.asp VB.NET langauge reference

        If you are wanting to do web development ASP.NET (using VB.NET or other) http://www.asp.net/ is a great site for info

        For window forms development http://www.windowsforms.net/ is a great site for info


        TONS of more information out there. You can do VB.NET program by just downloading the .net framework sdk ver 1.1 and program in notepad (or any text editor), but you may want to get a nice IDE (makes things much easier in most cases). The most popular IDE is of course Visual Studio 2003. I think you can get the basic version for Visual Studio for VB.NET for like $100. Of course there are other options as well for free.

        SharpDevelop is probably the most popular. http://www.icsharpcode.net/opensource/sd/

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          #5
          It has been so long since I programmed that every recourse I look at seems to be speaking a foriegn language. even the beginners guides all seem to refer to other languages that I should know. they all seem to reference each other. XML books talk about VB.net and visa versa. Isn't there a book or a tutorial I can get ahold of that will teach me ONE language with out a working knowlege about another? I just baught "Beginning XML 3rd edition" by Wrox and I am trying to find a good VB.net book to start out with too. One that will teach me the basics and lead me into somthing more advanced towards the end. But I cannot seem to find a book that is good for it. I sort of jumped into this XML book. so I may be displeased with it too. sigh. I feel so lost in attempting to relearn programming. arg.

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            #6
            The languages you might need to know kind of depend on what you want to do:

            From my experience I see Someseer programming falling into three major categories:

            1) Writing scripts for execution of commands inside of HS
            2) Writing web add-ons for the HS Web Interface
            3) Writing plug-ins for the core HS code.

            Note that you can do a LOT of stuff right out of the box with HS, with no need to write one line of code.

            When I picked up HS about 10 months ago I had not written any code in well over 15 years (anyone remember CADOL?). Unless you are going to create exotic plug-ins, or highly modify the HS Web interface, you don't need much VB education.

            All you need is syntax for VB Script. (i.e. - I need an IF-THEN, or a DO WHILE, what's it look like in VB Script?)

            I use this resource to check for syntax: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...bscripttoc.asp

            There are also tons of sample script examples on this board. Once you download some and pick them apart it will start to get real obvious as to how they work.

            I too started with looking for books on VB scripting, and couldn't find one that really helped. It wasn't until I started writing some scripts that everything came together.

            I guess my point is that you don't need heavy programming abilities to use HS. If you can learn to write scripts, that helps, but its not a requirement. The script writing itself is fairly easy if you have previous programming experience of any kind.

            For example, if you are already familiar with what a CASE statement is and does, use can use the resource link above to see how to format it in VB Script.

            Take a look at the Scripts area of this board and download some. Also you can download the HS manual and there are lots of samples in it, too.

            Steve C.

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              #7
              Cool its good to know that I wount really NEED to know anything other than what I have previously learned. I am still going to finish reading the few books I have just for future reference and use. so does the scripting in HS run off of VB or is it somthing else?

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                #8
                To my knowledge its using VB Script - which is pretty much the same as VB .NET

                But they are not executables, just .TXT files.

                Go here: http://www.homeseer.com/support/home...p/homeseer.htm

                and take a look at the Scripting -> Creating a Script section.

                You can also download a trial version of HS which will include the documentation.

                Steve C.

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