Visual Basic 6 rebuilt in C# – complete with form designer and IDE in browser

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Project behavior and limitations

  • Runs a VB6-like IDE and form designer in the browser via C#/Avalonia compiled to WebAssembly; everything is drawn into a canvas.
  • Initial versions lacked syntax error reporting and some control events (e.g., Label Click), and some users couldn’t get simple MsgBox handlers to fire; the author quickly patched these.
  • The language is an interpreter with only a subset of VB6 implemented; no compile-time errors yet.
  • Some menu items are inert or lead to disabled dialogs; no ActiveX/custom controls, add-ins, or full debugging/single-stepping.
  • Load times are long, especially in Firefox or with stricter privacy/fingerprinting settings; some report it appears broken until it finally loads.

Nostalgia and educational value

  • Many recount VB3–6 as their entry into programming and professional work, especially for quick business utilities and small games.
  • VB6’s visual form designer and RAD workflow are widely praised as uniquely productive and beginner-friendly.
  • Several note that this project instantly evokes strong nostalgia, and some want to try running decades‑old coursework or projects in it.

Comparisons to modern stacks and tools

  • Common theme: today’s mainstream stacks (web/JS frameworks, .NET/XAML, Rust/C++ etc.) are more powerful and cross‑platform but far more complex and less approachable than VB6.
  • People lament the loss of simple visual desktop RAD tools; current “low‑code/no‑code” platforms often feel more constrained, locked‑in, cloud‑bound, and expensive.
  • Some argue modern C# WinForms in Visual Studio still offers a very similar drag‑and‑drop experience, though others find .NET as a whole much more complex than classic VB.

Browser vs. desktop debates

  • Some criticize the trend of putting everything in the browser, citing poor ergonomics, heavy runtimes, and fragile behavior under privacy protections.
  • Others counter that browser delivery is what makes people try such demos at all, and Avalonia also allows full desktop builds from the same codebase.

Why VB6-style RAD “died” (as discussed)

  • Explanations offered: rise of the web and SaaS, cross‑platform needs, shifting screen sizes, security/IT lockdown of desktops, piracy concerns, and cultural disdain for “visual” tools among developers.
  • Several point out that businesses often now buy SaaS rather than build small bespoke desktop tools that VB6 once made trivial.