Is FoxPro still available for UNIX? Does it run on Solaris?

[jwhitby3]

I have a potential client who still uses FoxPro, (DOS version) and he is not exactly "happy" with his current IT provider. Here is the situation in a nutshell. He is currently running SBS 2003. The only thing he uses it for is FoxPro.

My questions are:
Is FoxPro for UNIX still available? (I know it's not maintained as such, but can it still be gotten?)
Does (or did) it run on Solaris?
Can the backups from the DOS version be used to bring the UNIX version online? If not: Has anyone tried running it in Dosbox, on WABI, or with wine?

 

[itsp1965]

Don't know much about Foxpro for Unix, but since your client no longer needs the SBS Server, why don't you convert it to a VMware server (whether running Windows/Linux)and create a DOS VM that runs your Foxpro implementation. Off-topic... is there any reason why they haven't updated it to for the Windows version or try to export/import into a more modern DBMS.

 

[jwhitby3]

For clarity, they aren't my client yet. I'm still trying to feel this out, and figure out how much work is going to be for me, and whether or not it's going to be worthwhile.

I do have to laugh at myself here. As much work as I do with virtualization, (xVM hypervisor) the thought didn't even occur to me to use a DOS VM. I haven't looked at DOS in more years than I care to admit...might show my age lol.

I wont at this point go so far as to say they don't need SBS anymore, as I'm still trying to find out what all they are using it for. The problem is, they were given a server that was underpowered (and overpriced) for SBS to begin with. That machine is now 5 years old, and I don't think it has EVER been rebooted. At this point they need to start over either way. SBS or otherwise.

Some of the other problems, is that they have daily backups that are SUPPOSED to be running to a remote site. Nobody there knows how to check the backups, how to make sure the mirrored array is still functioning properly, or basically anything else having to do with the system.

They are also working on an office full of Dell computers that were likewise underpowered, and over priced.

As far as your question about updating. Apparently they tried to upgrade once, and the staff basically told them where they could put the Windows version after using it. It actually takes them longer to input the information in Windows than the DOS version. Or so I was told anyway. Probably just a matter of preference.

As far as updating to a new RDBMS...that is a hard call. Considering what his current IT provider charges him per month for service, it probably has a lot to do with the cost of rewriting the software. Although I personally think they would do much better using PostGresql for the DB, and Java for the frontend. Thats just me.

 

[dbj999]

MS does not sell the UNIX version of VFP anymore. Sometimes versions of it are available on eBay. 2.6a is the most recent release of the UNIX version.

Having said that, later windows versions are supposed to be able to run that early code, just recompile (which can sometimes not go as smoothly as you would like). Current version is VFP 9. There is a toolkit (WINE) which allows you to run windows apps in UNIX. I don't know how well it works. I know that MS believes that developing UNIX applications with WINE violates the VFP EULA. I think that went to court. I don't know how it turned out.