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 for the Working in Xbase Languages for the

last 19 yearslast 19 years

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

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?

.NET C# & VB (Microsoft.com).NET C# & VB (Microsoft.com) Java (Sun.COM)Java (Sun.COM) C/C++ (microsoft.com, borland.com)C/C++ (microsoft.com, borland.com) PHP (php.net)PHP (php.net) PERL (perl.org)PERL (perl.org) JavaScript (http://www.mozilla.org/js/)JavaScript (http://www.mozilla.org/js/) Python (python.org)Python (python.org) Ruby (ruby-lang.org)Ruby (ruby-lang.org)

.NET Pros.NET Pros

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 Platform (Linux workalikes?, .NET compact Cross Platform (Linux workalikes?, .NET compact

framework)framework) Highly capable, tons of featuresHighly capable, tons of features Lots of tools, frameworks, publications, etc. Lots of tools, frameworks, publications, etc.

availableavailable Can Interop with VFPCan Interop with VFP Desktop Desktop & Web& Web

.NET Cons.NET Cons

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)

PERL ProsPERL Pros

Open SourceOpen Source Large, Growing Job MarketLarge, Growing Job Market Cross Platform (Windows, UNIX, Mac, Cross Platform (Windows, UNIX, Mac,

Linux)Linux) Tons of tools, frameworks, Tons of tools, frameworks,

publications, etc.publications, etc. Easy to Learn?Easy to Learn?

PERL ConsPERL Cons

Open SourceOpen Source Older Technology (around since Older Technology (around since

1987)1987) Not as robust as .NET or JavaNot as robust as .NET or Java

JavaScript ProsJavaScript Pros

Hot! Rapidly expanding job marketHot! Rapidly expanding job market Cross PlatformCross Platform Lots of tools, frameworks, resources, tools, Lots of tools, frameworks, resources, tools,

etc.etc. Cross-PlatformCross-Platform Standards basedStandards based Needed for most web application Needed for most web application

developmentdevelopment 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

Limited OOP SupportLimited OOP Support QuirkyQuirky Web OnlyWeb Only Client-side only, runs in browserClient-side only, runs in browser Not for enterprise applicationsNot for enterprise applications No major vendors pushing it forward No major vendors pushing it forward

directly, up to browser directly, up to browser implementationsimplementations

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

Programming Languages: C#, VB, Java, Programming Languages: C#, VB, Java, PHP, Delphi, Coldfusion, Ruby, C++, PHP, Delphi, Coldfusion, Ruby, C++, Javascript, PERL, FoxPro, PythonJavascript, PERL, FoxPro, Python

Databases: SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Databases: SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Sybase, DB2Sybase, DB2

Based on Dice.com, CareerBuilder.com Based on Dice.com, CareerBuilder.com and hotjobs.comand hotjobs.com

The Programmer Job MarketThe Programmer Job MarketLanguage Jobs Share Growth % Growth

C# 10,109 9% (866) -9%VB 7,223 7% (3,958) -55%

Java 39,546 37% 4,927 12%PHP 4,166 4% 1,001 24%

Delphi 546 1% 49 9%AJAX 2,654 2% 1,502 57%

Cold Fusion 1,465 1% (299) -20%RUBY 666 1% 203 30%

C++ 16,605 15% (2,787) -17%JavaScript 10,295 10% 931 9%

PERL 11,659 11% 1,154 10%FoxPro 305 0% (16) -5%Python 1,965 2% 103 5%

Total 107,204 100% 1,944 2%

.NET 17,332 16% (4,824) -28%

Database JobsDatabase Jobs

Database Jobs Share Growth % GrowthSQL Server 23,127 34% (1,384) -6%

Oracle 41,425 61% 3,264 8%MySQL 3,253 5% 649 20%Sybase 3,870 6% (333) -9%

DB2 7,365 11% 706 10%Total 67,805 100% 2,529 4%

Other IT JobsOther IT Jobs

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? Start to learn other technologies nowStart to learn 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.