>>Hi Jim and thank you for your answer....It is not so much giving up the source
>>code that is the problem...the boss wants me to teach him how to be me and show
>>him how I make EXEs...He wants to learn what I know about programming...we at the universalthread share things, but this is different or is it? That is my concern....:)
>
>Show him. He's not going to learn programming in a couple of easy lessons so he'll probably quickly change his mind. If it is truly easy, then it's mickey-mouse changes that I would love most of my users to learn to do because I hate making them. These kind of changes are always "I need now" and I have other, *real*, emergencies.

I, too, always gave the source code to my clients, with one contractual limitation: They could not sell or give away this code or any works derived from it, to any other individuals or corporations. In otherwords, they can't use my code to compete against me.

On the other hand, it was part of my business model to train clients in programming the apps that I coded for them, so they could make modification.
I always billed by the hour, of course. I also taught them how to setup and take down their hardware and network, and how to to 95% of the maintenance that PCs use to require (In the days when chips were socketed and not soldered in. Dates me, doesn't it!)

I would also add that Jim Booth is 100% on target when he describes the mental and intellectual attitude of a professional programmer.
That is why, even during slow times, an independent consultant can easily put in 70 hour weeks just in learning new and maintaning old skill sets.
Also, being proficient in more than one platform and/or OS is a good idea. How many of you VFP folks are checking into or acquiring VB skills? Loaded Linux on a PC and started learning it. Have you brought your C++ skills up todate?
(Did you know that Janus Software just released a VB clone for Linux, and it's free? !!!)
The days of getting by just knowing how to hum only one tune are long gone! You gotta sing parts!