Hi all,

As some of you are aware I belong to the few VFP who moved a part of their IT skills to python. Why python? Because it appeals to most of those who joined VFP for the language itself. I never fully joined the python pack though and still run most of my desktop devs in VFP legacy mode (I know it's getting late...).

I was on the verge getting my feet seriously wet on wxpython dev. But I recently discovered that Qt - a great UI for C++ dev environment - was certainly on the right track from a marketing PoV as a desktop/mobile integration toolbox. That, along with it sheer technical quality and python support, possibly justified some serious investigation from VFPers.

I'd be glad get your feedback on the QT + QML + python as a DESKTOP development platform for ex-VFPers. But before you talk, my few cents on "Why a QT+python combination could be a great alternative to VFP" for next-generation desktop apps:

1- QT is robust, tested, and supported (difficult to challenge this, especially in Northern Europe),
2- recent developments - especially the QML-based extended set of "quick controls" - should make transition from traditional "desktop" to mobile a breeze,
3- python is a joy to work with and has evolved positively as well (including in critical areas for VFPers such as MS-Excel integration).

Python is certainly not a premier language from a QT perspective but the situation is much better for python in Qt than the VFP in MS ever was... In the end what am I talking about?

"A combination of QML+javascript for UI dev and python as the backend" (via pyqt or, why not, in the long run pyotherside) for data-mangling application-tier for sizable desktop applications that were VFP targets in the past.

Feedback from UT members and VFP community is welcome:)

François

PS- I understand that:
1- Web html-based apps can be properly served by alternative environments including some great VFP-based ones,
2- traditional cursor-based business applications à la foxpro could be possibly more easily crafted with and served by Lianja or even VS. But I am not developing this kind of apps any more.