Re: Welcome

Terry Grider wrote:

> Chris.Chambers@v2music.com wrote:
> >
> > OK let's get a general ball rolling:
> >
> > What future for COBOL programmers on the AS400? We hear a lot about JAVA 
>and C++
> > lately so are we a dying breed? How long can we expect to be in gainful
> > employemnt - what about cross training to RPG - and if there are any 
>programmers
> > who have both skills what are the merits of RPG over COBOL and vice-versa.
> >
>

I am fluent in COBOL/400 and ILE, as well as RPG III, IV, ILE. I have been in 
shops
that used both and often support multiple clients with one day being an RPGer, 
the
next a COBOLer.

I believe that you will find truly terrible programs in either language, as 
well as
excellent ones. As far as performance, both are good, as the 400's compilers do 
a good
job of optimizing.

What does the future hold? I personally will not let these skills get rusty, 
but I am
learning more about Java and Domino. The one stumbling point in Java is that 
anyone
with a PC can "learn" it, and be an "expert". A rather harsh statement, but 
look at
the applications on the web. Some are truly terrible. it seems that a large 
portion of
the people using Java have no experience in developing or maintaining systems. 
They
often have a PC mentality of "Just reboot it" to fix any problem. Building 
reliable
code to support an enterprise is a skill that is acquired over time. COBOL and 
RPG
folks often developed those skills over a long period. With the rapid expansion 
of
opportunities presented in our e-world, the demand has forced people to use less
experienced resources. As management gets burned by the results of this 
inexperience,
they will often associate their experience with the technology, ie Java. This 
could
cause many to look at "legacy" languages and systems.

JMHO,
Bob

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