Jimmy;

If someone pays you to develop a framework in VFP that is fine. I began by creating my own framework Janurary 1995), which I sometimes use for small projects. It took three integrations over a six month period of “spare time” (not paid) to create my “masterpiece”! Then Codebook was released in July of 1995.

However having used Codebook, TRO, VFE, MM and Visual MaxFrame (VMF) I found that VMF was created in a manner that let me be productive, allowed me to modify code where necessary and made me a good income. Each framework has good and bad points.

Now if you want to reinvent the wheel then by all means create your own framework. Be sure you understand what OOP is about, VFP and handling data. If you purchase a framework such as VMP you will have several advantages.

1. The experience of a knowledgeable team or software developers created the product.

2. You have access to forums to ask questions that will not be easy to answer if you create your own framework.

3. Bugs are reported to and resolved by the development team.

4. New features are created by the development team.

I like the concept of making money (billable hours) and not spending my time creating the best framework the world has ever seen. I could stand in awe of my accomplishment of creating the best framework ever. I could also have a problem paying my bills!

I have worked at software houses where we developed our own framework. Since I was paid to do this it was fine with me.

You have to take into account the business sense of all this and how it relates to you. There is no one answer.


Tom - In "lovely Silicon Valley"