What I'm having trouble getting a feeling for is:

How trouble free is SQL Express for desktop or peer network users?

With Stonefield Toolkit I've never had a data issue that could not be fixed by the client, with little intervention on my part. Is that the case with SQL Express?

I LIKE programming in DotNet. I LIKE working with SQL Server in our corporate office where we have DBAs to babysit. I just don't have a comfort level about the kind of support required for SQL Server Express in a vertical market app.



>What you're saying still doesn't make sense, the reason why I think Mike first asked the question.
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>For the size business you're talking about, there is SQL Express, price: Free.
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>I know some people developing dotnet apps for small business. They don't seem to have any problems.
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>>Mike
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>>As I said in my response there are some of you who are committed to .net and will go to great lengths to show how we obviously misunderstand .net and its potential. I didn't name anyone particulary as I knew the JVP lights would respond quick enough. Small business are all about desktop data solutions, not web based solutions. Right not I believe VFP is much better tool in the hands of the developer even if the expertise level of developers are the same. When the solution is all about data and you need to meet a certain cost objective, I think VFP at this point will win every time.
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>>Most small business remain small business most of their life and only about 25% live beyond 4 years. You do not need the added cost and complexity of SQL server for these small businesses and that is what you need with .net. or some other data source which the client is ill equipped to deal with. The few occasion I have had a chance to review a proposal for a .net solutions, the costs were much too high and their proposal got scuttled quickly.
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>>It is oftened offered as one reason to learn .net is that you will be paid more as a .net developer than a VFP developer. If that is true that certainly is not an advantage when it come to trying to develop small applications where cost is a very big factor. Somehow I can't imagine a "professional" .net developer ever working with the small business community.
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>>It appears MS is slowing including some of the VFP advantages into .net. If there hadn't been an outcry from the VFP developers and we all just switched quitely to .net like lemmings, do you think MS would have found it in their interest to adopt some of the VFP goodies into .net. I haven't had much time to get my underwear in a bundle over this but I do thank those who have been very outspoken on MS decision as I think it has changed some of MS behavior and I want to thanks to those on the VFP team that have fought the fight for VFP.
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>>I don't anything about your business, but I do mine and I know that had I switched several years ago I would have out a great deal of money.
>>Hopefully .net is serving you better than VFP was.
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>>Gaylen
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>>>Why do you say .NET is not a viable solution for a lot of small businesses? The support libraries are built right into Windows.
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>>>>Naomi - I appreciate all the help you give on this board along with all the others. I am a sole developer with my only technical support being the UT. I tried MS support once but gave up and found this site and am extremely happy.
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>>>>I started my own software development firm at the age of 60 after I retired from another sucessful career. I am totally self taught and have used UT when I couldn't figure something out but only after I tried to research the problem. I work with small businesses and have found VFP to be a great tool to provide unique solution for the small businessman and can't believe MS has any empathy for small business. Currently .net is not a viable solution for a lot of small businesses.
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>>>>rant on
>>>>I think Billion dollar bill has his head up his arse when it came to the decision to phase out VFP. He goes around the world handing out money to various causes and now is advocating selling VISTA to the developing countries for about $30. If he had kept VFP with its integrated IDE, data storage, and reporting all wrapped up into one package it would do more
>>>>for their plight than to give out Vista at a reduced price. Guess they will now have to buy his high end tools like .net and sql server and he will have made a good business decision to offset the loss on VISTA.
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>>>>Developing countries, like a lot of new business in the US, are small businesses, with limited funds at startup and if they are going to suceed they need good management information. A product like VFP with it RAD ability is a very good tool to provide this information at a price the owners can afford. In my opinion MS has forsaken these folk by their decision.
>>>>rant off
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>>>>A few years ageo I helped a small business get started by developing for them a small customized membership program. The company has since grown from 2 employees to over 42 employees in a little over 3 1/2 years. The last application I wrote for them was in excess of $200,000 and replace a third party IBM solution costing far more than that for just a 1 year liscense. VFP has its place and is the right tool for many situations, you just have to go out and find them.
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>>>>Hopefully MS will continue to let VFP run on their operating systems far beyond 2015. Maybe Bill will find his heart and make sure those who hitched their wagon to VFP over all these years won't be thrown under the buss.
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>>>>Keep up the good work Naomi and thanks to all who have helped me. I am staying with VFP as my major tool in my toolbox and will be right here on UT seeking help if needed. I just wish some of the .net converts on this board would quit chastising those of us who didn't or aren't going to switch over to .net. Such a waste of effort on their part and a real lame and tiring message.
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>>>>Gaylen
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>>>>>>There are a lot of other 'commercial' IT related forums out there. I've tried a bunch of them. I haven't seen anything that compares to UT for value and the amount of real expertise available.
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>>>>>>It costs a couple of dollars (US) per week. I spend a lot more than that in tips for lunch in a week. The benefits from UT membership for me are tremendous.
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>>>>>>You provide direct links to people on other forums. this costs them nothing. The fact that people may decide to subscribe to UT after following a link just validates its worth.
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>>>>>>Bill Kuhn - MCSE
>>>>>>The Kuhn Group, Inc.
>>>>>>http://www.kuhngroup.com
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>>>>>William,
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>>>>>Thanks for the support. I do not even consider the latest possibility as people think and I do not get anything for doing that except for sometimes doing harm to myself. I'm doing it only because I want to help and while I do know about a particular solution I do not necessary test each one of them or try it if I never had a need to implement something like this in my job. That's why I also want to allow people to read the whole thread sometimes and get different ideas and even ask follow up questions if needed on which I'm not qualified to answer.