That is great that he was able to create a sophisticated app using Notepad. I have met a few college grads using .net that use Notepad too. I don't understand it but they seem to enjoy the challenge. However, time is not money to them yet...
I am wondering though why your company did not provide a better ide for him to use but left him to his own resources and hence he used Notepad? Or did he do the app on his own time as a freebie without any guidance or requirements etc?
>Use the right tool for the job.
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>Sometimes you do not have “the right tool”, but succeed in spite of perceived limitations.
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>Our company hires Interns (college students) and we had one that I was truly impressed with! He was not given a copy of Visual Studio, however he had Notepad. He created a very sophisticated Dot NET application that assists us in our plant.
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>Other tools besides Notepad are available for Dot NET development. Some are free.
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>If you really want to do something in life you do not always need the most “stylish” or “acceptable” tool. It does take a desire and willingness to do your homework and think out of the box. When you are satisfied with what you are doing then by all means remain so.
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>For those developers who do not work for corporations who supply Visual Studio .NET, and who depend upon programming to earn a living, they will find a solution. Yes, VS .NET costs money. The cost of VS .NET is not that much more than VFP.
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>Again use the right tool for the job. Where the market is has a lot to do with driving the tools people use. Markets vary. In all likelihood, your market will not be the same as that of others.
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>Indications are that VS .NET is selling more copies than VFP. There must be a market for VS .NET.
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>Tom
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>>I have a well worn CD of VFP 6 which has served me gallantly for 8 years. Eight YEARS! I develop small applications for my work, my church and myself and I enjoy the power and freedom - especially because I can develop 'under the radar' of those darn DBA's and WEB server guys.
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>>To get a similar environment using .NET would cost me 1000 Dollars up front just for starters - and .NET is harder to implement for a multi-user app - then I have to start buying licences for MSSQL or use JET/ACCESS as a back end - and where is my local database?
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>>Go ahead and leave me behind - but...
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>>... I live in Canada where $1000 is a week's pay - what about the 1000's of developers in Brazil, India or Russia where that would be 2-3 months pay - do you think they will be moving over?
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>>Microsoft has had the same problem with XP - they have addressed it by selling certain non-english versions of XP at cut rate prices.
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>>That just wouldn't fly with .NET so I can't see how Microsoft can sell .NET to anyone but big companies who have the cash.
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>>FOXPRO and VFP have been on the way out since 1993 - It will still be on-the-way-out long after .NET has become .HISTORY