Quick background: Sedna is the code name for the work being done now by the VFP Team at MS.  It is scheduled for release sometime in 2007 and is still in a state of flux, though some general goals and direction have been outlined.

I was very fired up when Sedna was announced, as it was one of the directions I really wanted the VFP Team to take.  That enthusiasm and joy was soon somewhat quenched by what I felt was Ken Levy's lack of spark, cryptic answers, and inability to play up the positives of this surely worthwhile and useful goal/vision for VFP in the future.  I flat out called him on it on the UT, and his reply to me was to be patient and reserve my judgements until after DevCon, a C9 video, and some of his scheduled speaking engagements.  I have trusted Ken to deliver the goods in the past, and this was no exception.  I decided I would go on my trip and check the lay of the land upon my return.

It appears my trust was not in vain as Ken has indeed started to show his usual spark and some genuine enthusiasm for Sedna and VFP in general.  The reviews of the Keynote at DevCon have been overwhelmingly positive and the C9 Video shows Ken with his usual mischievous smile and boyish enthusiasm for VFP and the work being done by the VFP Team.  (Side Note: Could somebody please tell Robert Scoble to stop moving the camera so much or just put it down on the tripod that is surely right next to him?  I didn't get sea sick at all on my trip to the Gulf, but needed to take several Dramamine in order to make it through another one of Scoble's videos.  Sheesh!  Great content, lousy camera work.)

I still wish Ken had shown a little more can-do attitude and some of his marketing savy earlier.  When the Visual Foxpro Roadmap was first released would have been optimum in my mind.  But, better late than never, and given the fact that I am not privy to a number of the reasons that MS does the things they do, I will give Ken the benefit of the doubt and believe that he had his reasons.

To those of you who have recently cancelled your membership to the Chicken Little Country Club and jumped back on the VFP Is Alive and Well Bandwagon, I say, “Welcome Back!”.  And Ken, for myself and thousands of other developers who rely on you for a certain amount of flame fanning... Thank You.  If you can market VFP half as well as you do Ultimate Ears headphones you will be doing great!