Consuming a Json WebService from a C# or VB Application

Imports System.Net
Imports System.Runtime.Serialization.Json
Imports System.Web.Script.Serialization

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = System.Globalization.CultureInfo.GetCultureInfo("en-US")
        'fill the combo with the availbale sizes
        cmbSize.Items.Clear()
        For Each Size As PhotoSize In [Enum].GetValues(GetType(PhotoSize))
            cmbSize.Items.Add(Size)
        Next
        cmbSize.Text = PhotoSize.thumbnail.ToString()
    End Sub

    Private Sub btnStart_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnStart.Click
        Try
            Dim url As String = GetURL()
            Dim request As WebRequest = WebRequest.Create(url)
            Dim ws As WebResponse = request.GetResponse()

            Dim jsonSerializer As DataContractJsonSerializer = New DataContractJsonSerializer(GetType(PanoramioData))
            Dim photos As PanoramioData = CType(jsonSerializer.ReadObject(ws.GetResponseStream()), PanoramioData)

            Dim form2 As Form2 = New Form2()
            form2.Init(photos, txtGeonamesUser.Text)
            form2.Show()
        Catch wex As WebException
            'exceptions from the server are communicated with a 4xx status code
            HandleWebException(wex)
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString(), "BUG!")
        End Try
    End Sub

    Private Function GetURL() As String
        'http://www.panoramio.com/map/get_panoramas.php?set=public&from=0&to=20&minx=-180&miny=-90&maxx=180&maxy=90&size=medium&mapfilter=true
        Dim baseURL As String = "http://www.panoramio.com/map/get_panoramas.php?set={8}&from={0}&to={1}&minx={2}&miny={4}&maxx={3}&maxy={5}&size={6}&mapfilter={7}"
        Dim settype As String = txtUserID.Text
        If rbtAll.Checked Then
            settype = "full"
        ElseIf rbtPublic.Checked Then
            settype = "public"
        End If
        Dim url As String = String.Format(baseURL, txtResultMin.Text, txtResultMax.Text, txtMinX.Text, txtMaxX.Text, txtMinY.Text, txtMaxY.Text, cmbSize.Text, chkMapFilter.Checked, settype)
        Return url

    End Function

    Private Sub HandleWebException(ByVal wex As WebException)
        Dim msg As String = "The server did not like your request."
        Dim hwr As HttpWebResponse = CType(wex.Response, HttpWebResponse)
        If hwr IsNot Nothing Then
            msg += vbCrLf + String.Format("The status code is {0}, the status message: {1}.", hwr.StatusCode, hwr.StatusDescription)
            Using sreader As System.IO.StreamReader = New System.IO.StreamReader(hwr.GetResponseStream())
                Dim errorMessage As String = sreader.ReadToEnd()
                If Not String.IsNullOrEmpty(errorMessage) Then
                    msg += vbCrLf + vbCrLf + "The further data sent from the server are:" + vbCrLf + errorMessage
                End If
            End Using
        End If
        MessageBox.Show(msg, "Bad Request!")
    End Sub

    Private Sub btnJavaScriptSerializer_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnJavaScriptSerializer.Click
        Try
            Dim url As String = GetURL()
            Dim request As WebRequest = WebRequest.Create(url)
            Dim ws As WebResponse = request.GetResponse()

            Dim jsonString As String = String.Empty
            Using sreader As System.IO.StreamReader = New System.IO.StreamReader(ws.GetResponseStream())
                jsonString = sreader.ReadToEnd()
            End Using

            Dim jsSerializer As System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer = New System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer()
            Dim photos As PanoramioData = jsSerializer.Deserialize(Of PanoramioData)(jsonString)

            Dim form2 As Form2 = New Form2()
            form2.Init(photos, txtGeonamesUser.Text)
            form2.Show()
        Catch wex As WebException
            'exceptions from the server are communicated with a 4xx status code
            HandleWebException(wex)
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString(), "BUG!")
        End Try
    End Sub
End Class