Yes, but it looks like .NET is facing an uphill battle as well in its positioning against the ubiquitious J2EE for the enterprise space (although I agree that it will continue to have market share among MS shops running Windows just as VS6 does now).

If Pete is concerned about learning a language that will be "popular", Java and specifically J2EE is the obvious choice (according to industry "experts").

Hopefully .NET will make some ground in this area but only time will tell...

-JT

>>This hit home to me. I don't care how great VFP is technically. If
>businesses and students (like me) PERCEIVE that VFP isn't the future, businesses won't support it and students won't learn it.
>>
>
>For the most part, this has been the perception for quite some time. Look at TechEd, DevDays, PDC, etc and look at VFP's representation at those shows. I put the challenge out to anybody who can cite me one positive trend with regard to VFP as far as the OUTSIDE world is concerned.
>
>From personal experience, I can tell you the trend for training is WAY down. Then again, it is for the industry as a whole - but Fox has declined at a faster clip.
>
>>
>So, I've been rethinking my pursuit of VFP. Can I better spend my time learning something else? What will be best for my future?
>>
>
>IMO you can... Going to a VFP show or class is not going to do much for your future - unless all you care about is socializing with people from the community. Make plans to go to a .NET or SQL Server show or take a class. Make an effort to learn 1 new thing a day - no matter how small it is. There are a lot of free resources on .NET on MSDN - so don't think you will have to burn through a lot of bucks. TechEd is a good experience. I gave the last VFP session ever given - and the amount of topics there is awesome. Alternatively, you may want to go to PDC or perhaps VSLive from Fawcette.
>
>
>>
>Microsoft's confusing marketing/support of VFP casts doubts, whatever their intentions may be.
><
>
>The intentions are clear - to blur the lines between community and a product. In other words, get folks jazzed up about the community - and the ancillary issues with the product go away..at least, they appear to have gone away...
>
>On one hand, they are "committed to the future". On the other hand, "there are limited resources". Web services are pitched as a panacea. If all of a sudden, VFP is greeted with open arms by companies that have heretofore shunned the product simply because it has support for web services, then I will be convinced and proven otherwise...
>
>As for the confusing comment, that is right on target. The message posted up here often don't make sense or are self-contradictory. This used to not be a problem...
>
><<
>Even the VFP community of experts, are obviously confused/concerned/doubtful.
><<
>
>Don't forget that some simply drink the Kool-Aid. As ashamed as I am to admit it, I used to be one of these people - thinking that my position in life and self worth was dictated by whether I was a "good soldier". Fortunately, I don't think I ever strayed into the area of out and out deceit. To one degree or another, I always believed in what I said. For me, it has simply gotten to a point that even I cannot sling the message.
>
>Further, there are some who don't drink the Kool-Aid - but nonetheless have an interest in keeping the status quo. These people have decided to let their self-interests cloud their objectivity. I OTOH, don't have a personal agenda or self interest here. Therefore, I am free to be objective, candid, and honest.
>
><<
>Microsoft appears to have some kind of plans for VFP – they are planning v.8. They are clearly marketing .Net. But I haven’t heard from them a clear statement as to what application, role, or niche VFP will have in future.
><<
>
>VFP will support web services - through the SOAP Toolkit. It does with 7, has since 6 and will in 8 (assuming 8 comes to fruition - and I suspect it will..)
>
>IMO, the plans revolve around the community - as that is where the effort is being placed. As far as the product is concerned, there is only so much that can be done - or needs to be done for that matter.
>
>I would submit looking at the GLOBAL MS message - which is .NET.
>
>
>>
>So that’s one student’s opinion. I would love to hear from all of you what advice you would give folks like me.
><
>
>Use VFP today to fuel your migration to .NET. That is my advice to you in as simple terms I can muster...
>
>Regards,