>Is anyone @ M$ bringing .NET strenths to VFP?
>
>A better question might be "How many developers are really taking advantage of VFPs strenghts?"
>
>Should the criterea for hiring a mechanic be how new his tool box is?
>
>The truth is a lot of developers - regardless of tool - are not really learning how to solve problems. And the fish biting the NOT hook may be, in reality, more insecure about their skill sets than they are letting on. If one does not have a grasp of their current situation - why not move to something where it seems ignorance will not be noticed.

Funny but your describing my business to a tee. I solve problems. Most are surrounded with data. I go from the MFG environment to the Auto Sales, so it's usually different from most of the VFP developers out there.

>VFP is a good tool to learn problem solving. Just moving to NOT will not enhance you problem solving skills. When someone hires us for really technical (not help desk) work they can judge by the light in our eyes weather or not we are a player or a cheerleader.

Call a spade a spade here. Most of the "can you fix this" calls I got was to help enhance an existing system built on a wing and a prayer. No documentation, no data dictionary, no comments in the code. I'd say that this is a major steping stone that the long time managers over systems initially developed in fox want it's replacement in anything but fox. I find this work the best. You can figure out some bizLogic by reading the code and slam out a UML as to what your going to deliver.


>When they see the light - it does not matter what the tool is - or how many facts about this or that tool that we can list. What matters is the confidence we have in ourselves.

Damn stright.

>Band wagoneering and cheerleading are an indication that we are not first string material - and were willing to do anything just to get into the show.

Well I have 2.5 years of C# experience. I have done Web and Win apps and should be doing handhelds real soon for an auction. I have a SQL server system for a MFG that now wants the db converted over to DB2, because it's an IBM mainframe shop. I asked them if they wanted to go that route in the beginning and they said no. I get to redo about 50% of the app in this rewrite, which is really needed. I did to much work with sessions, so i want to redo it with far less dependence on them.

>Many of us get gig that require us to work with development tools that are beyond our experience. Why - because the person that hired us saw that glint of confidence and compitence.
>
>Of course - if we cannot be technical - and we need to get in the show - and would feel better about ourselves if we could parrot someone we think is famous or be on a firstname basis with a book-writting marquee geek - we become cheerleaders - or IT managers - or help desk managers.

Dream on buddy. I talk the talk and walk the walk. I tend to deal with IT directors and attempt to get into the lead developer, team leader, or architect role. I have great vision to do really cool ideas and enhance business flow and work in new ways.

>As the oracle said "Know thyself" -
>
>As the Benet Gesserit say "Fear is the mind killer".

Fear is knowing when your team has prommised too much. Leadership is knowing how to advise management that you have to stick to the initial plan and all these wonderful new ideas will come in phase II.

>THat will be .02$, (EURO's please!:-)

I'll buy you a beer next time I pop over your way, or if you want to meet in NOLA...