Hi Mal,

to offer yet another point of view: it is becoming clearer now that MS is realizing that not all developer needs are served by C# or VB.Net: dynamic languages, such as VFP, are just too productive for a great many developers to make the switch to static languages like Java, C# or VB.Net. MS's shift can be seen in their new Volta tool, which takes any MSIL language (including the dynamic ones), and makes it into a multi-tier, distributed application, at the places of the developer's choosing. For my take on it, and some links, you can take a look at: http://groups.google.com/group/vfpnet-compiler-community-support-group/browse_thread/thread/02e051f7b3af8125?hl=en#

Hank Fay

>Hi:
>
>This is not a "VFP is better than..." or "I'm dropping VFP" post.
>
>I presently write code in VFP9SP2 with DBC and SQL Server (just started using MySQL) backends. I now want to also be able to program for the internet and would like VFP user's opinions.
>
>Which would you recommend. I am halfway thru a "How To" Java book. The OOP parts is familiar. The strong typing part is different but not that hard to grasp. I see the hardest part as learning the API's. I'm guessing that .Net is the same.
>
>Is choosing .Net over Java more like choosing Microsoft over other companies (nothing to do with writing programs)?
>
>Or .... Can anyone tell me if Java is better than .Net or visa versa and why?
>
>Or .... Is there another program out there that can compete with the above two?
>
>So far Java looks promising, but, I plan to purchase a VB.NET book also (or should I try C#?). Questions! Question! Questions! This is driving me crazy!!!
>
>TIA