>To develop a certain system, we are analyzing different options with a potential client.
>
>One is to develop the system with well-known tools - Visual FoxPro, a framework, and some additional tools I added. In this case, I can give a reasonable estimate for the time required (once I know a little more about the requirements).
>
>Another is to develop in some other programming language. We were specifically discussing the possibility of using Java.
>
>As much as I know that I have to learn a new language sooner or later, this makes me quite nervous, in the sense that I don't know how long it will take to learn Java well. I did learn the basics (which I would have to review again...), in a Java course, but that didn't include database access. Also, creating the visual interface seemed quite cumbersome to me; in any case, I would have to learn that. (In this older course, it was done with AWT; I understand that recently the recommended alternative is SWING.)
>
>So, the question is - In order to give my client a reasonable time estimate, how long would it take to learn Java well enough, so that I can develop a complete business system? For those who switched to .NET, how long did it take them? I would guess the time estimated would be similar in both cases.
>
>Later I will see what additional tools I need; probably a good GUI, for a start, perhaps some classes. For a first step, what concerns me most is the time estimate.
>
>TIA,
>
>Hilmar.

Thanks to all who took the time to give your ideas on this issue.

Hilmar.