New Things to Cover New Things to Cover http://www.etecnologia.net/ http://www.etecnologia.net/ , GNU Project , GNU Project Adobe Flex Adobe Flex LINQ LINQ Borland/Codegear Borland/Codegear Intersystems/Cach Intersystems/Cach é é JavaScript passes C# on TIOBE (March JavaScript passes C# on TIOBE (March 2007) 2007) PHP GTK PHP GTK RealBasic RealBasic DJANGO (for Python) DJANGO (for Python)
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New Things to CoverNew Things to Cover
http://www.etecnologia.net/http://www.etecnologia.net/, GNU Project, GNU Project Adobe FlexAdobe Flex LINQLINQ Borland/CodegearBorland/Codegear Intersystems/CachIntersystems/Cachéé JavaScript passes C# on TIOBE (March JavaScript passes C# on TIOBE (March
Where Do You Want to Go Where Do You Want to Go Today?Today?
Mike FeltmanMike Feltman
About meAbout me
President F1 TechnologiesPresident F1 Technologies Working in Xbase Languages since Working in Xbase Languages since
19871987
Not a HaterNot a Hater
Work in Microsoft products all day, Work in Microsoft products all day, every dayevery day
Use all MS operating systemsUse all MS operating systems Love VFP, Frontpage, SQL ServerLove VFP, Frontpage, SQL Server Many friends & contacts at MicrosoftMany friends & contacts at Microsoft
I Make My Own Kool AidI Make My Own Kool Aid
AgendaAgenda
VFP’s Future Is LimitedVFP’s Future Is Limited Extending Opportunities for VFPExtending Opportunities for VFP Pros & Cons of Various Other Pros & Cons of Various Other
LanguagesLanguages The Job Market for DevelopersThe Job Market for Developers Other IT JobsOther IT Jobs
VFP’s Future Is LimitedVFP’s Future Is Limited
Microsoft is not making significant Microsoft is not making significant investment in developmentinvestment in development
Microsoft is not making any Microsoft is not making any investment in marketinginvestment in marketing
A product not marketed by its own A product not marketed by its own manufacturer cannot succeed long manufacturer cannot succeed long termterm
Job Opportunities are limitedJob Opportunities are limited
Extending Opportunities for Extending Opportunities for VFPVFP
Keep your current customers happyKeep your current customers happy Vertical market softwareVertical market software Get into web developmentGet into web development Participate in VFPXParticipate in VFPX Increase your exposureIncrease your exposure Sell business solutions, not technologySell business solutions, not technology Be willing to do maintenance workBe willing to do maintenance work
A Language is a LanguageA Language is a Language
Most business needs can be met in Most business needs can be met in any programming languageany programming language
““Religious” wars are silly and a waste Religious” wars are silly and a waste of timeof time
““Advocates” have ulterior motivesAdvocates” have ulterior motives Many (maybe most) features often Many (maybe most) features often
go unusedgo unused
Where do Where do YOUYOU want to go want to go today?today?
Definitely where Microsoft wants you to go todayDefinitely where Microsoft wants you to go today Like buying IBM in the 80sLike buying IBM in the 80s Big Job MarketBig Job Market Lots of OpportunityLots of Opportunity Cross PlatformCross Platform
.NET compact framework).NET compact framework) Linux, Mac, Solaris Clone (Linux, Mac, Solaris Clone (
http://www.mono-project.com/http://www.mono-project.com/) ) ,, Highly capable, tons of featuresHighly capable, tons of features Getting with the program as far as data access goes (LINQ & Getting with the program as far as data access goes (LINQ &
Orcas) Orcas) http://www.ftponline.com/channels/net/reports/vslivesf/2007/lthekeynote2/http://www.ftponline.com/channels/net/reports/vslivesf/2007/lthekeynote2/ Lots of tools, frameworks, publications, etc. availableLots of tools, frameworks, publications, etc. available Can Interop with VFPCan Interop with VFP Desktop Desktop & Web& Web
Steep Learning CurveSteep Learning Curve Constantly ChangingConstantly Changing Little Regard for Backward CompatibilityLittle Regard for Backward Compatibility Steep Competition for JobsSteep Competition for Jobs Geared towards teams, not individualsGeared towards teams, not individuals Not as productive as VFPNot as productive as VFP Immature 3Immature 3rdrd Party Market Party Market Shrinking Job Market?Shrinking Job Market?
Java ProsJava Pros
Backed by Big Companies such as SUN, IBM & Backed by Big Companies such as SUN, IBM & OracleOracle
By Far the Largest Developer Job MarketBy Far the Largest Developer Job Market Growing Job MarketGrowing Job Market Lots of OpportunityLots of Opportunity Cross Platform (Linux, Unix, Phones, PDAs)Cross Platform (Linux, Unix, Phones, PDAs) Lots of tools, frameworks, publications, etc. Lots of tools, frameworks, publications, etc.
availableavailable Highly capableHighly capable Mature 3Mature 3rdrd Party Market Party Market Backward CompatibilityBackward Compatibility DesktopDesktop & Web & Web
Java ConsJava Cons
Steep Learning CurveSteep Learning Curve Most development is not on Windows Most development is not on Windows
(Unix, Linux)(Unix, Linux) Steep Competition for JobsSteep Competition for Jobs Geared towards teams, not individualsGeared towards teams, not individuals Not as productive as VFPNot as productive as VFP Desktop apps are generally slow, Java Desktop apps are generally slow, Java
is primarily geared for the web.is primarily geared for the web.
C, C++ ProsC, C++ Pros
Makes learning anything else easyMakes learning anything else easy No limitsNo limits Lots of opportunityLots of opportunity Cross PlatformCross Platform Cross VendorCross Vendor Lots of add-ons, frameworks, toolkits, etc. Lots of add-ons, frameworks, toolkits, etc. Desktop & WebDesktop & Web Not going awayNot going away
C, C++ ConsC, C++ Cons
Steep Learning CurveSteep Learning Curve Low ProductivityLow Productivity Not really for business appsNot really for business apps Makes your brain hurtMakes your brain hurt
PHP ProsPHP Pros
Open SourceOpen Source Cross PlatformCross Platform Backed by large vendors such as IBM & OracleBacked by large vendors such as IBM & Oracle Tons of tools, frameworks, publications, etc. Tons of tools, frameworks, publications, etc. Widely SupportedWidely Supported Cross PlatformCross Platform Rapidly Growing Job MarketRapidly Growing Job Market Easy to LearnEasy to Learn Backward CompatibleBackward Compatible Commercial Compiler availableCommercial Compiler available
PHP ConsPHP Cons
Open SourceOpen Source Smaller Job MarketSmaller Job Market Most development is not on Windows Most development is not on Windows
(Linux)(Linux) Not as robust as .NET or JavaNot as robust as .NET or Java Low Priced Competition for workLow Priced Competition for work Web Only (at present)Web Only (at present)
etc.etc. Standards basedStandards based Will probably “never” go awayWill probably “never” go away Backward compatibleBackward compatible Generally needed for any web projectGenerally needed for any web project
JavaScript ConsJavaScript Cons
QuirkyQuirky Web OnlyWeb Only Client-side only, runs in browserClient-side only, runs in browser No major vendors pushing it forward No major vendors pushing it forward
directly, up to browser directly, up to browser implementationsimplementations
XUL vs. XAML = short term future?XUL vs. XAML = short term future?
Python ProsPython Pros
Open SourceOpen Source Easy to learnEasy to learn Growing Job MarketGrowing Job Market DABO (dabodev.com)DABO (dabodev.com) Cross PlatformCross Platform Desktop & InternetDesktop & Internet Fair # of Tools, Frameworks, etc. Fair # of Tools, Frameworks, etc.
Python ConsPython Cons
Small Job MarketSmall Job Market Limited OpportunityLimited Opportunity Not widely used for business Not widely used for business
applicationsapplications Fewer Tools, Frameworks, etc. than Fewer Tools, Frameworks, etc. than
many othersmany others No major corporate backingNo major corporate backing
Ruby ProsRuby Pros
Growing Job MarketGrowing Job Market Exciting PossibilitiesExciting Possibilities VFP Like (& Beyond) ProductivityVFP Like (& Beyond) Productivity Cross Platform (Mac, Windows, Linux)Cross Platform (Mac, Windows, Linux) Ruby on Rails is rapidly emergingRuby on Rails is rapidly emerging Easy to learnEasy to learn Totally freeTotally free Open SourceOpen Source Internet & DesktopInternet & Desktop
Ruby ConsRuby Cons
Open SourceOpen Source No large corporate backing (although it’s No large corporate backing (although it’s
used heavily by Google)used heavily by Google) Seems that most developers are on MacsSeems that most developers are on Macs Very newVery new Job Market is very smallJob Market is very small No real IDE & Limited Tools (although No real IDE & Limited Tools (although
that’s part of the appeal)that’s part of the appeal) In its infancy for desktop appsIn its infancy for desktop apps
The Job MarketThe Job Market
Studied available positions for the last 6 Studied available positions for the last 6 months in various technologiesmonths in various technologies
Project ManagerProject Manager Network EngineerNetwork Engineer Systems ArchitectSystems Architect CIO/CTOCIO/CTO
What am I doingWhat am I doing
Working like crazy in VFP – really no Working like crazy in VFP – really no end in sight to my VFP workend in sight to my VFP work
Doing JavaScript, AJAX, DOM, CSS Doing JavaScript, AJAX, DOM, CSS work in conjunction with VFPwork in conjunction with VFP
Learning more and more SQL Server Learning more and more SQL Server all the timeall the time
Keeping my eyes on PHP, Ruby & .NETKeeping my eyes on PHP, Ruby & .NET
What You Should DoWhat You Should Do
Make a Make a businessbusiness decision decision Where will you get the most ROI?Where will you get the most ROI? How can you deliver the most value to How can you deliver the most value to
your clients?your clients? Learn other technologies nowLearn other technologies now Read Read Get tools, especially frameworksGet tools, especially frameworks
Don’t Be a Hater!Don’t Be a Hater!
You’ll Go HungryYou’ll Go Hungry Employers & Customers like Employers & Customers like
optimismoptimism Make Informed Business DecisionsMake Informed Business Decisions
SummarySummary
It’s possible to be gainfully employed It’s possible to be gainfully employed in VFP for a long timein VFP for a long time
There are opportunities in a lot of There are opportunities in a lot of other technologiesother technologies
.NET should be given very strong .NET should be given very strong consideration, but it’s not the only consideration, but it’s not the only thing out there.thing out there.
Make decisions that are right for youMake decisions that are right for you
Thank you!Thank you!
Remember to fill out your sessionRemember to fill out your session
evaluation. evaluation.
Session slides, white paper, and code Session slides, white paper, and code samples will be updated.samples will be updated.