>Thanks to Steve Stamm for his useful thread on the current health of the FoxPro commuinity: "How many are left?"
>
>I'm asking a related question. Most everyone here is aware of the remarkable efforts of the eTecnologia group to create a compiler from FoxPro code to dot-Net p-code.
>
>http://www.etecnologia.net/index.htm
>
>I would like to hear some gut reactions on their chances of creating a reliable (mission-capable) product.
>
>Do they have a shot?
>

A couple of years ago, I would have said probably not. After all, if Microsoft couldn't/wouldn't do it, how could a small company I never heard of pull it off? Then again, I would have said the same about Linux, Mono, Gnome, KDE, and other projects. These prove that a small group of smart, dedicated people can do things you wouldn't expect.

Based on their progress, now I think yes, they will have a good product. Their aim is 100% compatibility with Fox, but with all of the quirks and various work-arounds in existing code, I don't know if that's possible. That may make some folks balk, but let me ask you this: If Microsoft said they were going to make VFP.NET, but it would only be 80-90% compatible, would you buy it? There would be some detractors, but ultimately, I think the community would get behind it and write articles/books on all of the differences, new features, upgrading your code, etc.

So, the real question is, will businesses bet on eTecnologia and will the community accept them? I would like to see Samuel at the next Southwest Fox conference, to learn more about the product and so speakers/attendees can see how talented he is. With community support, I think you're looking at the long-term successor to Fox, and they didn't have to pay Microsoft a dime for it.