SNIP
>>>Two, since it isn't really compiled, it may simply not be fast enough for some low-level development. This may usually not be relevant for writing database applications for the business. And I never saw a need for more speed. However, this can be a consideration in some cases.
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>>Well, I assume that VFP developers are using it for database type apps so this has never been an issue to me. If you want low level stuff then you would probably use C/C++.
>
>Frankly, it isn't an issue for me either; but it must be considered in some cases. Then again, with C/C++, you will once again have code that is platform-dependent... At the very least, it has to be recompiled for each platform. But that is the typical trade-off, between speed and portability.

Hilmar,

Surely, in the day of the 2+ghz system costing $499. or less, this consideration arises far less frequently than it did in the past, wouldn't you think?

Today I think that speed is relative to I/O more than anything else by far and designs that minimize actual I/O and optimize whatever I/O is necessary are the key when performance is a critical issue.

cheers