After reading Chapter 1, you should have a good understanding of what makes client/server databases different and why you might want to use them. But the $64,000 question is: Why would you use Visual FoxPro to develop your client/server applications? This chapter will answer that question for you, the developer, and provide answers that you can give if your clients ask this question. More than half of all software developers today use a certain variation of Beginner’s All- purpose Symbolic Instruction Code (BASIC), according to Microsoft. Why? Partly because of familiarity, partly because of its versatility, and also partly because popularity begets popularity. But you might recall your parents telling you, “Just because everyone else does it doesn’t mean you should do it, too.” This chapter discusses six features that make Visual FoxPro the best client/server rapid application development tool available today: object- oriented programming, COM support, built-in client/server support, built-in local data engine, support for other data-access technologies such as ADO, and Rapid Application Development (RAD). Many of these features could be, or are, the topics of one or more books of their own. While each feature is discussed separately, keep in mind that it is the combination of these features that makes VFP such a great client/server development tool. Not many development tools can offer the combination of features found in FoxPro. Visual Basic, for example, offers great COM support and support for ADO and is an excellent RAD environment, but it isn’t object-oriented, while C++ is a great object-oriented programming language but lacks built-in client/server or local database support and has never been accused of being good for RAD.

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