Ravi

>>Do customers really look at these issues or do they simply look at what the "current fad" is? I'm not sure.<<

You know your customers best, trust your own judgement on that, do not be instructed.

>>Are you suggesting abandoning VFP and considering Java/dotNet? Would this mean that applications will have to be rewritten? Cost? Impact to customers and the developer? Specially the small time developers?<<

If you move to Java/dotNET you will be starting from scratch. You have a significant learning curve ahead of you. If you can find dotNET programmers they'll be neophytes too. Be pragmatic and trust your own instinct on what that means for you. Customer expectation, funding or other issues may make it an excellent proposition.

FWIW my company has grown a bit but in 1997 we were a "small time developer" that jumped from VFP to Java. Bad mistake, Java was not ready for people like us who needed to make a profit. IMHO: Unless you have all your costs met and do not need to make a profit, you cannot afford to be in the first wave of anything new in IT. It hurts too much.

>>Will be stay forever, so that small time devlopers can continute to make a living using VFP?<<

VFP will not last forever. However, with even Bill Gates saying that dotNET is a 5-10 year strategy, if you have stuff you can sell now, make $ while staying abreast of what is going on in the rest of the market. Who knows what IT will bring in the next 5 years?

Regards

JR