Visual FoxPro is a discontinued Microsoft RAD language and database engine. Modern VFP programmers mostly maintain legacy applications, integrate data with modern systems via OLE DB/ODBC, and plan migrations to supported platforms such as SQL Server and .NET or web stacks.

What Visual FoxPro (VFP) is

Visual FoxPro is both a procedural/object-oriented programming language and a native database engine with an integrated development environment (IDE). Originally developed as FoxPro and later maintained by Microsoft, VFP was a Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool that used COM/ActiveX for UI components and OLE automation for interoperability.

Microsoft shipped several releases of FoxPro that culminated in Visual FoxPro 9.0 (2004). Microsoft announced that it would not produce further versions, and extended support for VFP ended in January 2015. Today VFP is found largely in legacy business applications rather than new development.

What VFP programmers do today

VFP developers historically wrote desktop business apps with forms, reports and local data stores. Today their core responsibilities often include:
  • Maintaining and extending existing VFP applications.
  • Troubleshooting and repairing client databases and deployment issues.
  • Writing or updating scripts and classes for business logic, reporting and batch processing.
  • Integrating VFP data with modern systems using ODBC, OLE DB providers (such as the Visual FoxPro OLE DB provider) or data export/import routines.
  • Planning and executing migrations to modern databases and platforms (for example, migrating data to SQL Server and rewriting front-ends in .NET or web frameworks).
These tasks require knowledge of VFP's language and data model, plus experience with interfacing technologies and modern architectures used during migration projects.

Interoperability and migration paths

Because VFP is discontinued, most modernization efforts focus on two things: preserving data and replacing application logic.
  • Data access: Common approaches include using the Visual FoxPro OLE DB provider, ODBC drivers, or exporting data to SQL Server or other RDBMS for long-term support.
  • Application modernization: Teams either rehost UI and business logic on .NET/web stacks, wrap VFP logic where feasible, or rewrite modules selectively.
Choosing a path depends on application complexity, regulatory requirements, budget and the availability of experienced VFP engineers.

Career outlook and learning

Demand for pure VFP development has declined since Microsoft ended support. However, experienced VFP programmers remain valuable for firms that rely on legacy systems and for migration projects. If you maintain VFP systems, update skills around data migration, modern database platforms, and interoperability tools to remain marketable.

Practical advice

  • Audit VFP apps and document data schemas, business rules and external integrations before any change.
  • Prioritize migrating critical data to a supported RDBMS before replacing the application layer.
  • Use community resources and archived documentation to bridge knowledge gaps during maintenance and migration work.

FAQs about Foxpro Programmers

Is Visual FoxPro still supported by Microsoft?
No. Microsoft announced no new VFP versions and extended support ended in January 2015. VFP is now treated as a legacy platform.
How do I access data from a VFP database today?
Common methods include the Visual FoxPro OLE DB provider, ODBC drivers, or exporting tables to a supported RDBMS (for example, SQL Server) for long-term access.
Should I rewrite or migrate a VFP application?
That depends on risk, budget and complexity. Typical strategies are data migration to a supported RDBMS first, then either wrapping, rehosting or selectively rewriting application logic in modern frameworks.
What skills help VFP programmers stay marketable?
Experience with data migration, SQL Server (or other RDBMS), ODBC/OLE DB interoperability, and modern application stacks (for example .NET or web frameworks) improves employability.
Where can I find help maintaining VFP applications?
Look for archived Microsoft documentation, community forums, specialist consultancies and developer communities that focus on legacy systems and migration services.

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