VFP

VFP commonly refers to Visual FoxPro, a data-centric programming language and integrated development environment for Windows developed by Microsoft. It evolved from FoxPro and added a graphical user interface, a form designer, and object-oriented features, creating a platform suited to building desktop applications that manage data locally or from connected sources.

Visual FoxPro combines the Xbase language with a relational database engine that uses DBF data files with optional CDX index files. It supports SQL, stored procedures, and views, enabling data-driven applications with forms, reports, and event-driven logic. The development environment includes a forms designer, a report writer, a class library for object-oriented programming, and debugging tools. Data access can be performed with native commands or via connections to external data sources using ODBC, OLE DB, or COM components.

History and status: FoxPro originated in the 1980s, and Visual FoxPro was introduced in 1995 as an evolution of FoxPro with GUI capabilities. The last major release, Visual FoxPro 9.0, appeared in 2004. Microsoft subsequently ceased active development; Visual FoxPro is no longer under active development or officially supported. Despite this, the product remained in use for many years in various industries, particularly for legacy desktop applications, and a community around Visual FoxPro continues to provide migration tools, extensions, and compatibility efforts.

Legacy and impact: Visual FoxPro played a prominent role in rapid application development for data-centric Windows desktop software. Its combination of a mature data engine, form-based UI design, and flexible integration options contributed to long-running business applications. Although largely superseded by newer technologies, VFP assets and knowledge still appear in maintenance projects and migration efforts. Related technologies include FoxPro lineage and xBase-family languages.