At 02:06 PM 10/10/2006 -0400, Bill Arnold wrote:
...
OS independence, like Ed and Paul (and yourself?) are getting with Dabo
has the obvious allure, but it's a huge investment, and there is a
gamble there on Python's future OS compatibility and the prospect of
brand new "latest and greatest" competitors.
...
I highly doubt Python will ever have a problem like VFP has. In fact,
anything released in open source won't have a problem like VFP had. You
won't have a company 'decide' that a superior technical product isn't worth
continuing.
For me, my next language will very likely be Python/Dabo. That is if I
decide to stay in computers given the current "Windows-sleazy" environment.
Python makes a lot of sense as a choice because if Windows goes belly-up,
no problem. If Linux doesn't catch on, no problem.
And, by the way, I believe desktop applications will come back in a storm.
The web will be used like it should be - data exchange, information
sharing. But the work will be back on the desktop. Most reasonable
companies will eventually get fed up with the risks of 'executing' things
over the web. When companies see other companies saving 10's of thousands
or more each quarter on 'no patches', it'll catch on quick. But that's just
me. I could be wrong. Like I predicted MS would start shutting down PCs if
they didn't like what they saw, but I was wrong... oh... hmm... guess I was
right on that one... <g>
...
I understand and share the angst over MS. But another angle there,
possibly in VFP's favor, is that with Big Bill leaving, more reasonable
people may get involved and let the red-headed step-child out of the
attic and put some new clothes on him (her?). I think it's a real
possibility.
Unfortunately, it's more likely the next group will be even more obsessed
with bottom line numbers and will really screw over the customers. They
almost can't help it. With their level of market share, and the general
ambivalent, uncaring attitude of most IT professionals, MS believes they've
got a lock on the world. That whole 'deactivation' stuff is a very visible
sign of such an attitude. And like it or not, VFP can usually obviate the
need for SQL Server at a shop, so no one at MS is going to want that to happen.
I used to be in the camp of MS when they were 'for the user' and got us
away from IBM-slavery. But now, they've opted to turn things into
MS-slavery so I'm on the other side of the fence again. Pretty much the
only glimmer of hope is Linux.
-Charlie
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