Cetin:

Thank you.


>>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
>
>Mal,
>Any answer would be biased as mine is too:) After checking this and that things I decided to go with C# (classes are common to all .Net languages and syntax slightly differs between say VB.Net and C#.Net, meaning learning one you somewhat would be learning the other). Here there is a .Net forum. The people there are mostly from VFP and also might be still doing VFP as well (like me). When someone posts a question, the answer with sample code might be in VB or C#, knowing the poster cold easily translate to her/his language of choice.
>
>For internet you're starting at a time where Silverlight 2.0 release is getting closer (and Novell is doing Moonlight for linux platforms) which would boost inet programming. That might be a great plus for .Net over Java (but I checked Java superficially, check yourself). Also .Net 3.0 and 3.5 is released, now you're starting at a time where LINQ (LanguageINtegratedQuery) is avaliable (querying anything that can be enumerated -not just the data- is cool).
>
>What I like about .Net is that, SQL server itself supports the CLR (if you go with .Net that's what you'd be using daily in unofficial terms). I can easily create user defined functions, stored procedures, types ... for SQL server databases using C# and I love that capability (especially for complex things that I find very hard or inefficient to do with T-SQL). One drawback about it is, many hosting companies do not allow you to use the CLR with SQL server (... to them).
>
>The IDE, though not very close, still is similar to what you know with VFP (drag&drop, set properies etc).
>
>Anyway, Express versions for anything in .Net either from MS or 3rd party are for free to install and use:
>msdn.microsoft.com/express (Web Builder,C#,VB,SQL server2005 and 2008 CTP...)
>www.ideablade.com (Devforce framework)
>
>For starter videos www.asp.net, www.learnvisualstudio.net, www.ideablade.com ... are just of a few places from tons of sources.
>
>PS: You may be surprised to see you can create a (simple of course) web/desktop application for your VFP backend in less than 5 minutes. But I promise you that you'd have a lot of pain later - sounds familiar from a movie?:)
>Between C# and VB, C# sounded to be the first class citizen or it was just an unjustice rumour from VB.Net users I don't know. If you think with ... endwith is crucial for you do not choose C#:)
>
>Cetin