Thoughts from a young programmer (Posting: Derek Kalweit)

From this thread:

...if...you're young like me(20's). I've used
many languages over the past 10 years and primarily code in VFP and
VC++; VFP being the one I spend the most time with. I work at an
employer with VFP, and I work on the side and develop applications for
sale.

Personally, I have to think about the next 30 years or so of my
career(retiring right before January 2038 at the latest), unlike most
people here. I have to think of what I can write applications in for
my side business, ignoring any marketing hype(consumers rarely care),
but I also have to keep a pulse on the job market for software
engineers in my area.

With this dual requirement, I've decided to pursue .NET. If I look at
the software engineer positions being advertised around here, they're
JAVA, .NET, and C/C++ predominantly. Most of the JAVA stuff is high
level enterprise stuff which I've had some experience with in the past
and hated. .NET is my choice to learn more of right now and start
coding new applications in, as I think it makes the most sense for me,
financially/career-wise, going forward.

As much as I might like open-source stuff such as DABO and so on,
there are almost no jobs available in my area for such. Even Ed
himself doesn't have any paying Dabo work-- if one of the creators
can't get any, why would I think I can?

Think it through and try to make the best decision you can going
forward. At our age, the worst thing we could do is hide our heads in
the sand and think we can trek through with VFP alone for the rest of
our careers.