X-Spec

--------
RE:     X-Spec

 >> bring all the opcodes over into the CF-spec, so each programmer/site/company
 >>can decide how far they want to go with indenting.

>Sorry but I completely disagree.

>If you don't want the completely free-format there will still be a choice -
>stick with the current C spec.

>The syntax gets ugly (apologies to RPG/free) when you have to accommodate all 
>of
>the vagaries of the RPG language. 90+% of all the op-codes can be dealt with
>cleanly without messing it up and they probably represent 99.999% of the stuff
>you need to code anyway.

I would have to agree Jon.

As I said before, You may not get what you believed you wanted,
but you will get what you asked for.

If you thought you see some ugly, unmaintainable code today,
I will go out on a limb and say you will see some code that 90% 
of the programmers you will hire will not understand.

Remember APL ??? 

In one statement you could calculate the orbit of the space shuttle
but only the guy that wrote it understood it.

Look at a couple of the following facts and then decide your
shop standards.

1.  They are NOT producing any new RPG programmers. PERIOD.
2.  A large percentage of the current talent cannot read 
        any of the already in place new stuff(pointers, sub-Procs, etc)
3.  Your company has a hard time finding a budget today for training
        and education to bring you up to today's language ability.

4. There already is a serious have/have not knowledge gap.

Now look out 5-10 years and see what you see.  
Will the CF-Spec bring over C or VB or Java programmers to RPG ?
Ya, Right! Good Luck.

Will it make "Better" programmers out of existing "Bad" ones ??
Ya, Right ! Good Luck.

You better make certain decisions as to what things are/are not 
done in your shop(ie standards).

Think it over.

John Carr
EdgeTech

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