About Console

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a simple Console-based Application which displays information about your PC using the "My" Namespace and Environment Variables!

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Step 1

Start Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition, then select File then New Project... Choose Console Application from the New Project Window, enter a name for the Project and then click OK, see below:

Step 2

A Blank Module named Module1 should then appear, see below:

Step 3

With Module1 selected goto the Properties box and change the File Name from Module1 to modMain

Step 4

With the modMain Module Code View displayed, enter the following code in the "Sub Main()", subroutine:

Dim Output As String
Output = "Computer Information" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf
For Each Item As System.IO.DriveInfo In My.Computer.FileSystem.Drives
  If Item.IsReady Then
      Output = Output & "Drive:" & Item.VolumeLabel & "(" & Item.Name & ") Space " _
      & Item.TotalFreeSpace & ") Size (" & Item.TotalSize & ")" & vbCrLf
  End If
Next
For Each Item As Environment.SpecialFolder In [Enum].GetValues(GetType(Environment.SpecialFolder))
  Output = Output & "Special Folder:" & _
  [Enum].GetName(GetType(Environment.SpecialFolder), Item) _
  & " (" & Environment.GetFolderPath(Item) & ")" & vbCrLf
Next
Output = Output & "Memory (Physical):" & My.Computer.Info.AvailablePhysicalMemory & _
" of " & My.Computer.Info.TotalPhysicalMemory & vbCrLf
Output = Output & "Memory (Virtual):" & My.Computer.Info.AvailableVirtualMemory & _
" of " & My.Computer.Info.TotalVirtualMemory & vbCrLf
Output = Output & "Operating System:" & My.Computer.Info.OSFullName & _
" Version " & My.Computer.Info.OSVersion & vbCrLf
Output = Output & "Computer:" & My.Computer.Name & vbCrLf
Output = Output & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & "Environment Variables" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf
For Each Item As DictionaryEntry In Environment.GetEnvironmentVariables
  Output = Output & Item.Key & ":" & Item.Value & vbCrLf
Next
Console.Write(Output)
Console.Read()

See Below:

Step 5

Save the Project as you have now finished the application, then click on Start:

When you do the following will appear:

Step 6

Click on the Close button on the top right to end the application or press any key such as the Spacebar.

This is a very simple Console Application outputing information to a Console Window, the Console.Read waits for any input such as the Spacebar , this could be changed to show more or different data, console applications are useful for when you want to do something that does not require anything to been seen, it is up to you, make it your own!