Hi, Jos.

>If one considers the number of applications and solutions being built with PHP, Perl, Python, Java, Delphi, etc, then "winning" is perhaps too strong a word. Certainly .Net is being used and VS.Net is a good dev tool - just not the only option open to developers who are considering a new learning curve.

Well, .NET is the fastest growing development platform worldwide by now, with Java and the rest staying almost flat. I don't have the links handy, but I've seen several different studies about that in the last year.

>>"My" personal bet is that in 3 or 4 years (Internet centuries) .NET will be an even bigger player, although maybe a few options could be also fighting with it. I think concentration will go further, anyway.
>
>Well, like all predictions, they are open to review. I maintain that 3 or 4 years (perhaps more as delays are inevitable with complex systems) leaves a lot of room to see what happens. Just think back to how fast the Internet went from "what the hell's that?" to "I need a website now!" :)

Of course, if I had the crystal ball, I'd be at a beach in Jamaica, not here. 8-)

Anyway, .NET does not need more time for huge adoption. It is actually happening. VS 2005 (Whidbey) will just make things easier, but as I said, it is already better than most other platforms (except VFP, at least for DB desktop apps).

>(For the record: I am interested in C#.Net and also Python and other open technologies but will certainly stick with VFP as my primary dev tool for the foreseeable future. VFP rocks dude!).

Same here. ;-)

Best regards,