Currently, there is NO GUI RAD tool in the Linux community that has VFP's front end power and integrated so well to backend like dbf. Some projects are working on it, but they are at least two or three years off, if ever.

To remain with the dbf backend the closest you can get is a Fox 2.6 (not GUI) clone called FlagShip 4.0. It paints screens with @, SAY and GET, etc... It is OOP, however. It does NOT have a DBC capability.

If you don't mind leaving the dbf then there is PostgreSQL, on the Linux side only. VERY, VERY powerful. Some compare it to Oracle. It is GPL and free.(PostgreSQL does not release a windows version, but MySQL does.)

For a front end to PostgreSQL or MySQL you can use the very powerful KDevelop (runs on the KDE desktop and is GPL, that is free, just like KDE).

If you want to go commerical then Borland Kylix is one way to go. Like KDevelop, you can ODBC to a wide variety of backends. A $99 desktop version will be out later this summer. The Enterpise version is about $2000 US, and includes drivers for about every back end imaginable. If you have used Delphi on Windows then you are familiar with Kylix. Very nice. Kylix shows some of the nicest and most comprehensive widget sets in Linux. Better than any other GUI RAD available, IMO.

If you want to use Java with an ODBC to MySQL then you can use IMB's Visual Age for Java 3.0 in both the Linux and WinXX version. The Linux verion (3.02beta) can be downloaded for free. It limits you to 750 objects. I have used them both and they look and feel and operate identically. MySQL is similar to dbf in footprint and speed, but it is not nearly as SQL ANSI 92 compliant as the dbf. It uses inactive stubs for commands certain commands in order to avoid crashes.


Next to Kdevelop, Kylix and VAJava 3.x all other GUI RADs pale in comparison.
Most are gussied up versions of XEmacs, meant to work primarily on C or C++ and using the same WYSIWYG dialog capabilities as Visual C++ from Microsoft. :-)

You may also want to look at the the Linux version of the Pick system. It is a VERY powerful Assoicated-Multi-Value dbf with full ANSI SQL 98 (if I remember correctly) compatibility. An AMV database is extremely powerful. Using it I can out program any VFP coder by at least 2 to 1, if not higher. The reason is because of the functional data dictionary and the symbolic fields, and the fact that in many cases 3rdNF is not necessary because of the AMV, so the number of tables are kept low without the same data being stored in more than one place.
Once you see the power of the AMV you will be amazed. It's only handicap, IMO, is where blinding speed is required. But, if you index your tables properly, you will find it works as well as a dbf+cdx in most cases. With their WinXX version and their Linux version you have the cross platform capability you seek.
(BTW, there is a WinXX version from Advanced Revelation Technologies called Open Insight. It is a DOG with hair. They just put C wrappers around the DOS AREV version (which was excellent!) and created a slow bloated buggy pile of crud.

I think the Linux GUI RAD app development market is on the verge of EXPLODING!
JLK


>Hello:
>
>I develop database centered applications (like accounting, point of sales, human resources, etc.) for small and mediums enterprises. In Windows I haven't problems because I've the best tool of the world for that type of development, I'm talking of Visual FoxPro.
>
>But now, my customers are requesting apps that run on Linux.
>
>The problem: I can't to find any tool in the Linux World with the power and flexibility that VFP has. I've tried with Python-wxPython-Boa Constructor but the productivity for the developer is very distant of the one which is obtained with VFP.
>
>Also I've read some papers and made some test with a product named Omnis Studio (http://www.omnis-software.com) but seem very expensive, because each customer need to pay a runtime license. By other hand don't know if is powerful like VFP in aspects like Forms Generator, Report Generator, Database, Object Orientation, etc. Someone is working with Omnis? What can say me about the product?
>
>Someone know some other tool with the features of VFP to develop multiplatform and web applications that run in Windows and Linux?.
>
>Thanks in Advance by Your help.