>Daniel,
>
>You are so right. Supposedly the technology changes dramatically every 3 years. Though you may be good at a job because you've done it a long time, if you're not good at learning new stuff, and not busy doing that learning, you're sunk.
>
>I'll be speaking about that in Orlando.
>
>
>>I always ask about self-training and recent readings in an interview. IMO, it is one of the best indicators of how the person will handle changes in the workplace.

Exactly, Cindy!

Folks should be thinking not only of being mutli-tool talented, but multi-platform talented. The 'other' platform is gaining ground FAST! That's probably one reason why Java is becoming so appealing. You can convert/write your apps to/in a platform independent tool and be more secure in knowing that if the ground "shifts" you won't lose your balance.

Although I wasn't able to attend last nights chat on VFP and MySQL I plan to make it to VFP and PostgreSQL (pronounced "postgres"-"QL"). I've worked with PostgreSQL and it is VERY, VERY powerful. It's only drawback in the WinXX environment is the klutzy cygwin workaround. But, IMO, it brings an 'Oracle' capability to the Linux environment that is second to none.

I will, no doubt, be maintaining VFP code 10 years from now, but I doubt that I will be writing new code in VFP by then. In fact, we have been a Fox shop since 1990, but the dept head has made it our objective that we will be writing most, if not all, new projects in Java to the Oracle backend from now on.

Since 1968, when I learned Fortran 64 in grad school, I have learned at least a dozen languages, Java being the most recent. In fact, if you are thinking about learning C++, then just jump to Java and avoid the memory pointer hell.

What's that old saying? "Shift happens!" ;-)