For political correctness: Yes, b4j is a great tool. Same libs, same code (almost) as b4a.
The real world: Microsoft and it's tools (Visual Studio) IS the standard for Desktop & Server applications.
@aidymp : You can't compare VS with b4j or assume that all "basic dialects" are the same. First there was b4a which IS THE GREATEST for developing Android apps. Main intention was to drop Java and make "BASIC" available for developing an professional app which is then 100% Java code in the end.
An yes, I use VS 2013 Express (similar to the Community Edition) to develop my desktop apps and I call the same server components (php) as my b4a apps do.
But this is a b4x forum. Using google you'll find tons of "how to donwload files from a website with vb.net" and "zip, unzip", etc.). Of course you've got to learn (as we had to)
Feel free to ask b4x questions here. You are welcome.