The AS/400 mentality

Maybe I'm just venting. Maybe I'll just feel better in the long run. But, I
think my thoughts and technologies aren't far from the mark.

     First of all, has anyone else noticed that AS/400 solutions are
accepted when the are an exclusively an AS/400 solution? That is to say, if
any other platform is involved then the AS/400 popularity is diminished. As
a Client/Server programmer, I find the AS/400 to be a powerful server. But
what is the client? Another AS/400? What's the point.

     I attended a conference about five years ago sponsored by the 400Group
called 'Microsoft and the AS/400'. This conference was a huge success for
both IBM and Microsoft. Each had their own delinquents speakers including
one from the 400Group. Roger Pense himself spoke to an enthusiastic crowd
of hundreds of IS personnel. I don't remember other names, as Roger was my
favorite. If nothing else, I left the room feeling that IBM had embraced
Windows as the desktop of choice.

     My RPG skills didn't help me much with Windows. Instead I had to
evolve in to a new direction. I had Fortran and COBOL in school but they
wouldn't help either. I tried to understand C but fell apart at the thought
of 'pointers'. The Basic language didn't take such a leap and provided
Windows capability with Visual Basic. I wrote a few programs within the
first six months.

     IBM has greatly increased OS/400 connectivity and openness. The
Internet has been the latest focus operating systems and is becoming widely
excepted. But when it comes down to actual strengths, the AS/400 has the
best large-scale database, integrated toolset and hardware reliability, bar
none. But as third party tools are added to the operating system the
original OS is degraded. RPG still runs the best on the AS/400 and with the
advent of RPG/LE the AS/400 environment has been enhanced. Fact is, RPG
retrieves data and processes information faster than any other language or
add-on to the AS/400.

     What bothers me most with AS/400 people and specifically AS/400
publications, to this day, is that if Microsoft is involved within a
application solution.... Keep it quiet. Giving Microsoft even minimal
credit might in someway diminish the AS/400 based solution. Let it be known
that the staff of Chouinard and Myhre use Microsoft products but choose to
protect our information on the AS/400. Our AS/400 customers all supplement
their AS/400 applications with Windows as well.

     Last month I wrote an article using both the AS/400 and Windows. I was
asked to submit it to publication without success. The article can be found
at http:/www.cm-inc.com/whatsnew/usingiis.htm and describes a client/server
technique using the AS/400 as an Application Server. Something it was
designed to do in the first place. I believe many single AS/400 shops and
solutions could take a Client/Server approach to 'Internet Enable' their
existing AS/400 applications.

Ken Slaugh  (707) 795-1512 x118
Chouinard & Myhre, Inc.
AS/400 Professional Administrator/MSE
Client Access Specialist
http://www.cm-inc.com/

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