Newbie Visual basic programmer wants to do exact same in linux in c++ or c

From: rbarrett (rbarrett_at_softhome.net)
Date: 01/31/04 

Date: 31 Jan 2004 12:19:43 -0800

Hi i'm a total newb for both using linux and programming. Recently I
decided to think up the weirdest (and possibly most useless) idea i
could that would require me to learn some stuff about electronic
components, pc interfacing, and programming.

Now what i have done is modified a Remote control cars controller
using solid state relays so that i can control my car using the data
pins on my parallel port - this part is done, i'm driving my car
around the apartment.

The next part to this charade (aka learning experience) was to write a
simple visual basic program that would have 9 buttons - at least that
was all it initially was going to have. So I learned about command
buttons and then about event procedures and variables and i came up
with a program that does allow me to drive the car around using the 9
command buttons (forward, forward-left, forward-right, etc.) by
toggling the data lines on the parallel port (D0 is forward D1 Reverse
etc. etc.)

So then, (excuse the long post) I added keyup keydown functionality
for my arrow keys (having to add a disable buttons checkbox due to the
default properties of the arrow keys -like tab) and a toggle port
function so that when i was using the car at my desktop i could switch
to 378 and on my laptop 3bc.

so it all works great (*im working on upping the cars size to fit it's
own onboard computer for camera's and possibly an arm or something)
now what i want to do is do it all under linux, using c, or c++?,
where do i start my learning adventure. (keep in mind i'm a very slow
(and fast) learner who requires toddler like step by step instructions
on how to do stuff.

what i'd like to do is have a similar program in my gnome desktop (i
just figured out how to configure my video card for x-window-system -
notice i didn't say x-windows-system,,hehe.

Question 1 is there any Visual Basic like programming suite that helps
me program for linux (gui)

Question 2 should i be looking to learn c or c++ for this very simple
task?

Question 3 am i insane?

Thanks all for any replies that this post gets,

Ryan Barrett
Rytech Computing
http://rytechcomputing.ca
rbarrett at softhome.net