JVP

>>I did enough research to not make the mistake you made....

But there *was* no research, it was all so new. If you are saying that you waited for others to experience the "bleeding edge" so you could learn from their pain, then I think we agree 100%, that is the proper approach for VFP people, both then and now. There is of course ample "research" to confirm that apart from a few shining stars born of genius and true innovation, those who go first in many/most endeavours are not the ones who profit most from it. Except for the book-writers, of course ;-)

>>I was advocating that people explore it and to give it serious consideration. Are you going to say that was bad advice???

Sigh. *Everybody* said that. When will you give over trying to shoehorn others into daft positions?

In the interests of accuracy: you also added that VFP had "lousy" native data access and was only used for "po-dunk" work. You may see this as simply advising people to consider other tools, but not everybody would agree.

>>Given your Java experience - I am not sure you are the correct one to be casting stones...;)

A wise man once said, "he that makes no mistakes, isn't making much" ;-)

So who is casting stones? In professional circles, getting something "wrong" is rarely cause for scoffing and belittlement unless the mistake is repeated; it is supposed to make one wiser. Of course one has to admit the mistake to learn from it. I have no hesitation in saying that I was wrong to move to Java so early in the piece and I strongly advise others to avoid the same mistake.

Obviously those who can't find VFP work need to move tool or location, that is a truism; but for those who are doing OK, festina lente- "make haste slowly"- seems a wise choice. I've also suggested that people might look to leverage different skillsets such as design and planning that are less dependent on the uncertainty of development tools. IMHO programming is more and more a commodity, meaning that automation, cheap young labour and job exporting is inevitable. Those with the grey hairs and experience may be better steering the ship than rowing it; this argument gets submerged in the invective but I think it offers more options for experienced VFP people than learning another tool and carrying on as before.