>Hi All,
>
>I am sure this has been discussed many times before but all the previous reading I have done still doesn't seem to have given us a clear decision on what to replace VFP with for future developments. Although still using VFP for the moment clients are asking for things that VFP just isn't suited to do hence the reluctant decision to investigate alternate development environments.
>
>Lets look at the basic requirements needed in of our new choice of language:
>1). Relatively High-level language suitable for writing Line-of-Business Applications - that means not bloated code and relatively few lines to achieve any given task, hence reducing the future cost of application maintenance.
>2). Suitable to create Transactional systems such as a large Accounting Package.
>3). Suitable to create a Company-wide Document Management System.
>4). Ability to compile on both Windows, Linux and possibly other mobile devices.
>5). Ability to compile to 64-bit executable.
>6). Ability to create both standalone executable applications and Web based applications.
>
>Any new modern Development environment is likely to involve a separate Client/Server Database, we understand PostGRE SQL might be an interesting Database service to look at.
>
>We're fine with static Web development, have been working with HTML/CSS/Javascript for over ten years now, just not sure about what to use as a modern development language.
>
>Other thoughts on the future of Software Development is how long will it be before Internet accessible Virtual Applications take off and replace HTML based Web Applications, what will then be the language of choice.
>
>Your thoughts and discussion on this would be appreciated.

As you've probably already found out, high level/easy to use and flexible/customizable tend to be mutually exclusive.

Low-level, flexible: raw languages - Java, C++, PHP/Python/Ruby, tons of others

Higher-level, less flexible: frameworks - .Net, Ruby on Rails, PHP and Python frameworks etc. etc.

Highest-level, least flexible: platforms - Drupal/Joomla/WordPress for CMS, SugarCRM for CRM etc. etc.

I'd think real hard about the actual necessity to produce standalone executables. For new development Web-based should probably be top of mind. I'd also keep an eye open to where you might be able to take advantage of cloud-based services.

IMO the biggest problem is there's too much choice.