>>The funny thing is that of all the VFP developers we have, only two or three have ever HEARD of the UT. In fact, of the many dozens of VFP programmers I have worked with over the years, I estimate that roughly 10% have heard of the UT and maybe 2% are actually members. Can you blame them? Who wants to read these stupid "VFP Dead Threads". I have been in and out (out mostly) of the UT for many years and nothing has changed.
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>Yeah. And I think your estimates on the % of VFP developers who have heard of and are active on the UT is about right, if not too high. 80-90% of VFP developers didn't in the past and still don't particpate in the VFP community in any way.
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>In case some people on this thread haven't read it yet, go to
http://www.foxrockx.com/ and check out my recent editorial article called VFP Strategy at Microsoft (link on the left nav pane). FoxPro dead threads on the UT never influenced Microsoft in any negative way. The only thing they did is hurt the VFP community in a small way, since the negative perception probably took a bit of a toll on other VFP developers and businesses using VFP as a developer tool. That's not to say the Fox team and Microsoft didn't care or listen. I'm just saying it never harmed VFP or the future of VFP at Microsoft in any way.
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>VFP is not dead. What is true is VFP is not evolving as a core product, since Microsoft is not going to release any new versions or updates. But it is being used by many developers and businesses, and will continue to be through the entire next decade. If someone owns and drives year 2002 Pontiac Firebird sports car (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Firebird) and it runs fine, then it's not dead and may last the owner another full decade. Just because GM is not making any new Firebird models doesn't mean the existing Firebirds on the road are dead or not useful. VFP is alive and well by those who use it, it's just not evolving "at a core level". When you combine VFPX and many 3rd party products and technologies that VFP can and does work with, then VFP as an ecosystem is evolving. This whole topic is more about perception than anything else.
Hi Ken,
isn't the real story that MSFT has put VFP on hold so that Windows will catch up? Windows 7 was just released, and Windows 8 is in pre-alpha. When Windows 10 is released in a few years, VFP10 will also be released, but with the brand name Visual Studio Ultimate Fox 10. This will happen after 2015, when MSFT does not have any legal stuff to consider.
I heard this rumor April 1. last year, so it must be true.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year, by the way. Please send Anne's and my wishes to JD and your mother also.
