Since Microsoft has announced the End of Life of Foxpro, this has a number of consequences, from concerns about running Visual FoxPro applications in modern versions of Windows, to the ability to fulfill many modern application requirements for Windows, Web, and Mobile Applications. For this reason, many applications that were originally written in Visual FoxPro are being moved to other platforms and technologies, whether that is simply a move of the database to SQL Server (often triggered by customer needs, size limitations, or stability problems) or a complete move of the application to a technology such as .NET or others.
We have the world's foremost experts in moving Visual FoxPro applications to other platforms and technologies. We have been converting FoxPro applications to SQL server and/or .NET and other technologies since the late '90s (for SQL Server) and the early 2000s (for .NET). We have developed many tools that help with common tasks, such as project and technology evaluation, data migration, report conversion, UI conversion, and more. We train VFP developers who have an interest in moving to .NET, SQL Server, and similar technologies, and we work on projects of all sizes.
Note: We can also help you with the maintenance and continued development and improvement of existing Visual FoxPro applications. To find out more about that, take a look at our Visual FoxPro Development Services.
Starting a VFP Conversion or Migration Project
We often start VFP Conversion projects by using our VFP Project Analyzer Tool to assess how large and complex your existing software is. In addition, we often perform a Vision & Scope Workshop to determine the overall goals of the project, the size of the effort, and best approach.
Based on the findings of this analysis, we help decide on the next steps. One option may be a Proof of Concept or Prototype phase that demonstrates how one area of the application would work and then subsequently moves into a standard development process. Or, we may move into specific phases of the project, such as converting databases to SQL Server, and similar tasks. The exact details and roadmap vary depending on the project.
Project Lifecycle and Development Approach
VFP Conversion and Migration projects vary greatly in size and complexity, and thus the development and project management approach must be customized accordingly. We work with our customers to decide on the best possible approach that matches the customer’s need and incorporates our services at the level desired, whether that be a small supporting role, or the other end of the spectrum, which has us manage and handle a majority of the project.
Most VFP Conversion and Migration projects utilize some variation of an Agile methodology.
Common Technologies
Visual FoxPro applications support a wide range of needs, and as such, conversion projects tend to include a variety of different technologies and scenarios, ranging from very simple conversions, to conversions that span Windows, the Web, and Mobile Devices of all kinds. For a comprehensive list of services related to VFP Conversion projects, see the “Related Services” section. Here is a short list of the most common ones:
- .NET Development
- WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation)
- ASP.NET (MVC and WebForms)
- Mobile Development
- SQL Server
- Architecture and Design
Our Expertise
Our team is comprised of the world's foremost experts in VFP Conversion and Migration. We have been involved in converting many FoxPro applications and additionally have published numerous articles and given numerous presentation and training classes on the subject. This has been our specialty since the late '90s.
We have more VFP experts than any other company. Our list of experts includes people that were former members of the Visual FoxPro team at Microsoft (including Microsoft's former Product Manager for Visual FoxPro, Ken Levy, as well as renowned expert Rick Strahl and our founder, Markus Egger).
We have also created a range of tools to further elevate ourselves above our competitors. Our tools make us as well as our clients more productive in performing the actual work, but also in assessing risk and analyzing projects.
Purchase Options
VFP Conversion and Migration projects come in all shapes and sizes, and the most appropriate business arrangements for such projects are determined on a case-by-case basis together with the customer. In many cases projects are set up as time-and-materials projects billed on an hourly basis (either billed on an ongoing schedule, through service agreements, or as pre-paid hourly blocks). Sometimes, VFP Conversion can be built on a fixed-price basis, but due to the complexity and size of such projects, this is only possible under specific conditions and specific scenarios.
VFP Conversion Training Classes
At CODE Training, we routinely run different classes specifically for Visual FoxPro developers who have an interest in moving to different technologies like .NET and SQL Server. Check out our training site for a list of classes.