[robng]

I have long wanted to program for a hobby. Eventually bought Visual Basic 5 and finally realized that it didn't include a database. That's a separate item. Years later I got Access 2003. Now I finally am trying once again to learn database development and I find that VB doesn't recognise Access 2003! I guess cause VB's older. I have NO money for more software. I am not interested in Internet programming cause my access to the Internet is limited and unreliable. Is there no way to learn this stuff for a hobby without spending a fortune (for me) on software? Access can presumably do a lot by itself, but I haven't found an equivalent to VB's Books Online.

[Baez]

Try the most used language of all. C++.

It is completely free to learn and use if you know what you're doing. Go out and grab either Borland or GCC compiler and you're all set!

cplusplus.com is great place to start learning the language.