What do you mean by database? A big ass spread sheet? Or a REAL database? The kinds with sql queries and tables?
The answer given any reply is: none. you dont need a database for those. if you want to fetch that data from somewhere. THEN you may need a programming language. People here have explained how to fetch data from the internet.
But if you INSIST on writing an application to fetch data from the internet. Then yes, that would require a programming language. And i GUESS you could get away using visual basic.
My programming language preference is java. It runs on any operating system. Its pretty much the standards for large organizations. And it is awesome.
Another reason I recommend java ( or even c#, if you are so inclined ) is that, there is a large community online for the code/help. So there are times, i wanted to code up functionality. If the task i needed was simple enough, i just took someone elses. Not sure if there are gillions of forums for
VB programmers. Plus.... if you get awesomelly good at programming. I would look better on a resume that
VB.net would. (IMO)
Visual Studio, is the IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Its the "program" where you write/construct you own program(s).
Thanks. Good Luck. And Take Care!!!
PS. Dont use python