Good morning John;

I appreciated your post and it caused me to think - a dangerous act!

In reality there is a cohesive thought related to what you said somewhere within my post. I hope you understand what I mean but it may be difficult to pick out a few words and comprehend my thoughts.

Forgive the following -

There are many facets to every career field. In the case of software developers using Microsoft tools, we are an extension of the Microsoft sales force. We are not paid for our efforts be they direct or indirect, to promote Microsoft Operating Systems, SQL Server, and other products they sell.

Software is a bit like a shark feeding frenzy. You may need an Operating system (Which one? As if we did not know!), word processor, spreadsheet, database application, and the list goes on. Sell any software application and you must have an appropriate Operating System. Should I add the hardware necessary to support the new software? That is a similar but different topic.

It is not delightful to realize you are part of the Microsoft “vision”. We work towards increasing corporation sales and profits for Microsoft and we are not compensated. Loyalty to the developer is meaningless – it is all about the business model and profitability. When a tool is no longer profitable it is discarded. That only makes good business sense.

The problem with technology is that it is always changing. That is a fact of life that can be painful. To be profitable a company has to convince prospective buyers to purchase the latest greatest whatever. Buying a new television or car is not the same as having to learn new technologies so you can survive financially.

A good plan in life for your career is to have more than one skill set. Someone I know who is a PhD, told us he has had seventeen different careers in his working life. Nine of these jobs no longer exist. Keep up with technology or become obsolete. It is a great life – sometimes! :)

Tom

P.S. Besides Version Control, I wonder if Microsoft has a Vision Control Department? Perhaps all visions are allowed only by Mr. Gates! :)


>Perry, of course you are correct: MS makes most profit from OS and Office-type sales, not from development products.
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>The purpose of the development products is to help MS retain a loyal developer base that locks customers into those profitable MS database, OS or productivity suite licenses.
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>MS correctly saw that an increasingly discerning and cynical developer community wasn't satisfied by the likes of VB and C++. The CLR and its dialects do address many of the technical concerns of those turning toward Java and Open Source. Backed by a marketing blitz, loyal MS developers again have some "sizzle" to sell to prospective customers who cannot fail to be impressed that "the proposal" positions them securely in the midst of MS's amazing new strategic vision, as confirmed by excited MS reps.
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>So where does that leave VFP? Well, people who still use VFP were either already skilled or have become skilled in creating their own "sizzle", i.e. selling purely on the basis of their own delivery. In the long term, that skill may be more valuable than any of the other urgings to "do this and that" as seen here from time to time.
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>Also, since MS has done us proud by contining to release new versions long after the loudest prophets announced it was all over, I feel that MS has regained much of the loyality it used to have from the likes of me. Machiavelli said a few things about that, but overall I think current VFP people have excellent options and opportunity whichever way they now proceed.