Re: RPG III - Object to Source DE-Compiler

Paul - I have experience with Source Retrieval.  They performed well for me.

One of the consultants where I was working had created programs in his own
library and moved the objects to the production library without copying the
source to the production source file.  Then somebody deleted his library,
containing the source code.  We had them decompile a couple of printer
files, display files, and RPG programs.  I emailed to them a save file
containg the objects, they decompiled them and sent back the source.

If you have objects that are observable, you can either buy the license and
run their decompiler on YOUR system or you can send them the objects that
you want to have source retrieved from and they will do it as a service,
charging you by the object.  The decision point for having them do the
decompiling for you is the cost of licensing the decompiler for your system
versus the aggregate cost of Source Retrieval decompiling them and paying by
the object.

If the objects are NOT observable, then you have to send the objects to
Source Retrieval and they perform the retrieval on THEIR system.

In this case, I'm fairly sure that they are going to want to see proof that
your client's license agreement with the software vendor allows decompiling
of the code (and most if not all vendors don't allow this), in order to
protect them from liability in the event the software vendor decides to sue
both the client, YOU and Source Retrieval if/when they discover what you
have done.

HTH

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Nelson" <p_nelson-br@inil.com>
To: <midrange-l@midrange.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 8:11 AM
Subject: RE: RPG III - Object to Source DE-Compiler


> On the subject of Source Retrieval, Inc. have any of you had them
> perform a de-compile for you, or have bought their software?
>
> I've got some clients who are having the screws put to them by their
> software provider. They are being told that if they quit paying
> maintenance, their right to use the software will be revoked. This is
> after they paid the software company big bucks to do modifications to
> the base package (and pay again when each upgrade comes out). These
> clients have the software working exactly the way they want, and don't
> care about upgrading any more. Also the license is tied to the serial
> number of the machine. They'd like to stay with IBM, and they'd really
> like to get some new machines, but can't without paying the blood money
> to the software company. They've bought 99% of the source code already.
> There's just a few programs that they don't have ( the license checker
> being one).
>
> Any insights are welcome.
> Thanks
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
> > [mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Rick Rayburn
> >
> > >I don't think they intentionally delete the source: they just remove
> their
> > >personal library and everything in it...not realizing they have
> production
> > >objects operating from their personalized source files. Where I do
> get bent
> > >is them not copying the tested object into the live source file for
> > >re-compilation into production. SO MANY people, who have been around
> for SO
> > >MANY years, totally blind to the importance of change
> management...this
> > >particular problem is just a very good example of that.
> >
> > Hi Rick,
> >
> > As well as blaming the old rpg3 geezer, what about faulting dp mgmt
> for not
> > running a dspobjd *service job every month that checks that all
> programs
> > have been compiled from a production source library.
> >
> > Steve Richter
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
> --
> Paul Nelson
> 630-327-8665
>
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