Visual Basic 6.0 (VB6) is a programming language and IDE developed by Microsoft in 1998. It is a family of Visual Basic programming languages and is characterized by simplicity and ease of use, which makes it indispensable for all individuals-to experts as well as beginners.

Overview Visual basic 6.0 setup download

Visual basic 6.0 setup download

This article discusses the features, advantages, and how to get VB6 free.

Advantages of Visual Basic 6.0

Learnability
VB6 has very simple syntax and it is user-friendly. It shows visual nature of the IDE to the new programmers hence the result is immediate hence creating a positive learning experience.

Strong Community Support
Even though it is an older technology, VB6 has a strong community of developers that share resources, tutorials, and support. This can be very useful for newcomers to find their way.

Legacy Applications
Most organizations have applications, which are developed in VB6. This language is worth the learning, to maintain and improve legacy systems.

Integration with Windows
Applications which are written in VB6 run natively on the Windows, thus giving absolute experience to users. The language, is so designed to let leverage the Windows APIs that the developer can create applications tight coupled with the operating system.

How to Get Visual Basic 6.0 for Free
While Microsoft is no longer providing an official support for Visual Basic 6.0, it is still free and legal to get through a couple of channels as follows:

Educational Institutions
There are some institutions that offer their older versions like VB6 to the students. Please find your institution if they offer similar sources.

Online Communities and Forums
There may be some online communities or forums willing to distribute installation files or have legit copies of VB6 at Stack Overflow or VBForums.

Legacy Software Sites
Some people actually just keep older software alive and maintain sites as a way of giving older software new life. Such websites could likely have VB6 installation files; just be sure that you don’t check out such websites without checking their authenticity.

Virtual Machines
If you have a legit copy, you can install VB6 on a virtual machine. This may avoid compatibility issues with modern operating systems.

Configuring Visual Basic 6.0

Once you have gotten your copy of VB6, here are the installation procedures for it:

Installation of VB6: You need to run the installation file and then follow the prompt for installation. You will require the proper administrative rights on the computer.
Configure Environment: Once installed, configure the IDE settings to your liking. Customize toolbars and options for a more efficient workflow.
Explore Sample Projects: VB6 has sample projects. Explore them to understand what the language and the IDE can do.
Start Coding: Start with simple applications. Use the internet for help and inspiration, as well as community forums.

Visual basic 6.0 setup download

Features of Visual Basic 6.0

  • Rapid Application Development (RAD)
    VB6 also has a good name for the RAD, since this allows its developers to make an application both rapidly and efficiently. Since its drag-and-drop interface offers designing user interfaces quite effectively, the developers can focus more on functionality than on the coding.
  • Event-Driven Programming
    Visual Basic is an event-driven programing model; this means that the flow of a program can be determined by events. That is to say, a predefined sequence of instruction will determine the flow of a program through actions like mouse clicks or keyboard input. This allows for an easy way of making interactive applications.
  • Rich User Interface Components
    VB6 offers inbuilt controls (buttons, text boxes, combo boxes, etc.) and the ability to create custom controls. This richness allows developers to design applications that are beautiful and user-friendly.
  • Database Connectivity
    VB6 supports a variety of database systems, such as Microsoft Access and SQL Server. Its ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) make database interactions seamless. It is, therefore ideal for data-driven applications.
  • COM Support
    Visual Basic 6.0 supports COM, and thus, the developers can develop reusable components, which are allowed to be used in another application. This feature increases the rate of modular programming as well as code reusability.
Visual basic 6.0 setup download

Visual basic 6.0 Technical Specifications

  • Version: 6.0
  • Interface Language: English
  • Designed By: Microsoft
  • Type of Game/Software: Development Environment
  • Audio Language: English
  • Uploader / Repacker Group: Various online communities
  • File Name: vb60setup.exe
  • Download Size: Approximately 50 MB
Visual basic 6.0 setup download

Visual basic 6.0 System Requirements for PC

Minimum Requirements

  • OS: Windows 95/98/NT/2000
  • Processor: 133 MHz Pentium or higher
  • RAM: 32 MB
  • Hard Disk Space: 100 MB of free space
  • Graphics: 800 x 600 display

Recommended Requirements

  • OS: Windows XP/7/8/10
  • Processor: 1 GHz or higher
  • RAM: 512 MB
  • Hard Disk Space: 200 MB of free space
  • Graphics: 1024 x 768 display
Visual basic 6.0 setup download

Visual basic 6.0 setup download