This will probably be my last post to the UT.

I just receieved the latest issue of VFUG. It included a fine article by Nancy Folsom. She used the concept of "Doubly-linked lists" to illustrate coding in C# as part of her self-training. If I understand C# correctly, it has the power of C++ but without the need to putz with memory management or garbage collection. Those items are handled automatically. It is Microsoft's answer to Java.

What I found so curious, however, was the fact that she was using the concept of linked-lists to illustrate C# coding. Doubly linked lists is an easy concept to grasp and code, but I've been using VFP since 1995 and not once have I needed to resort to doubly linked lists, not to say that anyone else hasn't. But, when learning or teaching a language one doesn't usually use concepts that are not germaine to knowledge baseline the student will need to learn, and this article suggests the learning such rudimentary concepts is necessary. There are objects (with PEMs) that one can 'include' in C++ code that supply linked lists and other array features without reinventing the wheel, so I know that Nancy was just using the doubly-linked lists code to illustrate C# form and function. But, if she were doing this in front of a class room full of run-of-the-mill VFP coders she'd see a lot of wide-eyed, slack-jawed, deer-in-the-headlights stares facing back at her! Those kind of stares usually indicate a mind that is heading for the door with the intent to visit the registrar to change majors. C# will cause a lot of coders to remain with VFP for quite a while, until OS support dries up the VFP gene pool, and it will draw the best away.

UT is a great forum. It's been nice 7 years, but it's time to say goodbye.
See ya!
JLK