Hi Jim. I just love this post :) Thanks, you made my day!


>Don't take any of this as a slam. I could have gotten into this argument at any point along this thread.
>
>First of all I've been a software developer for over 20 years. Before that a CPA and Tax Attorney. I also own an IT sales company, which sells hardware and software all over the world.
>
>As a software developer I've led development projects for quite a few major corporations from client server to web based, many, but not all, utilizing VFP.
>
>Last year we started an e-commerce site directed towards the VFP community and are now probably the largest reseller of VFP. We also sell a lot of other Microsoft products on this and our other sites. In addition to that we pretty much know, or can know, about what every other legitimate reseller is doing in sales of Microsoft products.
>
>I can say, with some authority, that VFP sales as a percentage of other developer tool products is not nearly as small as many on this thread might believe.
>
>In addition to that, it's obvious in my conversations with VFP developers that most haven't made the move to 8.0 yet, not because they aren't still developing with VFP, but because many of their customers haven't moved off the Win95/98/NT OS platforms yet.
>
>Sales for VFP 7.0 were also heavy this year, to the point that there isn't a single copy left anywhere as of around July of this year.
>
>Some people quote "job counts" to determine whether VFP is alive or dead. I have my own theories about all that, but I can say we've sold many copies of VFP, including volume licenses, to quite a few major corporations and virtually every branch of the federal government, as well as, state a municipal agencies. I know if we're getting those type sales, the CDW's of the world are to.
>
>Now, as for the software development business, it's been on the decline since the end of y2k and the dotCom bubble for all developers. I'm just now beginning to see it begin to inch up.
>
>However it's a different market than it has ever been. Large companies just aren't going to take the risks they've taken in the past on IT projects. They also are tired of the constant "upgrade" costs and overpriced solutions that Microsoft, Sun, IBM, SAP and Oracle keep throwing at them. All those companies are feeling the pinch.
>
>As for VFP and its software development prospects. I can say that I've been amazed at the number of small shops with very profitable niche market applications out there. Most of these folks don't seem to visit the UT or other sites, except when they specifically need something.
>
>In my discussions with these niche market shops, I'm hearing more of them talk about pressure to move parts of their apps to the web because the small to medium sized companies they deal with are beginning to see the benefits of web or WAN enabled applications, not necessarily 100% web based, however.
>
>The small to medium sized market, IMO, is looking for pre-built solutions and most could care less what the solution is built with.
>
>That market and small apps that can help Enterprises pull their data together for whatever interface they use is where I see VFP's greatest market strength and those are bigger markets than there are VFP developers available to handle, but you've got to do some gold mining to get them.
>
>None of what I've said means don't learn Java or .Net development, but know that if you go that route you better be good because companies and recruiters aren't going to pay for half assed anymore.
>
>Also know that you'll be in an ever increasing pool of talent chasing the same projects for less money plus competing with off-shore, so be very, very good.
>
>Jim Eddins
>dbx-Technologies
>