Steve,

Indeed. Where I'm at right now I have so much VFP-related work (no, sorry, no openings right now due to cash flow management issues) I'm almost at the point of despair. From my POV the whole discussion of VFP 'going away' is, at this point in time, the complete definition of the word 'absurd'. <g> However, having said that, I make sure to schedule some learning time into my day/week and the constant-crisis be damned. I think it's irresponsible for me to allow the constant crush of the daily demands to keep me from improving my skill sets. Fortunately, the fellow I work for is a technologist at heart and he understands the need.

Maintenance: I just spent 1800+ dollars on my car. Some I get back from the insurance company (we have a LOT of rocks here in Utah <g>), but the other (air conditioning related) is just the normal wear and tear one gets with things like automobiles. I need the car to do my work. If I do not take care of the car I don't work. Likewise I need my skill set(s) and reservoir of development energy to be maintained as well, just like my car. There are many developers who run themselves into the ground, not taking care of themselves, and while they may get everyone's attention for a short while I dare say it's the developer who consciously carves time for renewal, research and rejuvination out of their schedule who will be far more effective in the long run. Here I think we (including John) all agree. We need to grow and mature. (DUH! <g>)

I can also see where in places VFP work has dried up and in others (like mine) I need to build an ark <bg>. As you suggest and IMO, this is really nothing more than the normal 'breathing' of the marketplace. Similarly, a lot of people are panic-selling their stocks right now as it never occured to them that the market might go down for a while. It does. And it goes back up again too. Just like programming skill sets, the need for them fluctuates and like the stock market there are always those who use the fluctuation to enhance their image of respectability to get more business by making grandiose proclamations and 'knowing' assertions. Me, I prefer to go to work and if I have a job tomorrow, do the same.

Warmest regards...

>Sorry to rain, once-again, on your enlightened analysis, Joe Bob, but the "fact" is every market, niche or otherwise, has its winners and its losers. Should people expand horizons? Certainly. Is this particular niche better or worse than most others? I see no objective evidence of this one way or another.
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>Moreover just like almost everything else, software developers in all areas are affected by the underlying business and investment cycles that, despite what you may believe, are not much better or worse insulated by the choice of what particular technology to study or use next.
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>So instead of "Fox" in your message below substitute "Java" or "Delphi" or "VB" or ".NET" and it reduces, as usual, to a spun babble.
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>**--** Steve
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>>I know it is a tough situation to go through. I recall Michelle Cox's situation about a year to two ago. However, I would contend that the BEST time to expand a skill set is WHEN you have a job. I believe that as time goes by, more and more Fox developers will be dealing with this very issue. Reports from various user groups indicate that many are going through it now.
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>>This is fact, not JVP preaching FUD... So much for the "niche" market. Depending on what side you are on, the "niche" does not look too good, does it????
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>>One man's niche is another mans dead-end market....