>What is VFP to you? How would you categorize it?

>What would you say are your primary reasons for using the product? What does it do best?

VFP is arguably the best data-handling system for mid-size (up to the 2GB size and local/WAN network), which makes it suitable for any data-intensive application for a small-medium size business. Linked with Oracle or SQL-Server it excels at handling & massaging data for user interfaces and ad-hoc reporting. (No, I'm not saying the Report module is any good :-))

The development environment and the ease of linking/subclassing/reusing code makes it the easiest development tool I've worked with (including Clipper, Oracle Power Objects and PowerBuilder). This is particularly important for in-house developers who can develop 'business objects' and re-use them in multiple apps.

Having the command line available to see all your data at any time is also an advantage not readily available with other systems.

Finally, the "we're all in this together" approach seen in the past on CIS and now on UT is unique to the Fox culture. Where else do developers share code with strangers - who might be competitors?

Barbara