Re: Have the ILE compilers been transfered to IBM Rational?

On 5/10/07, Joe Pluta <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Steve Richter
>
> George Farr refers to Rational having a broad focus on the system i.
> I interpret that as bringing more Java, PHP, Linux apps to the system.
> Farr also says IBM loves the system i customer base. Shearer says he
> wants to sell more blade servers, SANS and other technologies to the
> system i customer base.

Steve, I am certain that as long as it's up to George, there will always be
a primary focus on RPG as the business language for the System i (and I'm
pretty comfortable that it will be up to George for the foreseeable future).

You asked about new BIFs; we're not really going to get much in the way of
BIFs this time around, but there's a good reason for that. We're going to
get something you've been asking for forever: true multi-threaded RPG.

terrific. what is next, i5/OS running on the p5? ;)

> I am not an advocate, just interested in the topic. I think what is
> going on is IBM is trying to beat Oracle and MSFT to the punch in
> terms of selling system i customers on the "broader" IBM product set.

Well, yes, there will be some of that. EGL, for example, is going to be
pitched as a one-stop development language that will compete with high-end
generators like LANSA and OptimalJ. At the same time, though, I think
you'll always see a focus on preserving and extending the legacy investment
that exists in today's shops. For example, I think you'll see better and
better integration between EGL and RPG.

I dont think, they think, they have the time. IBM did very well
poaching HP3000 customers when that system imploaded. My guess is IBM
fears the same thing happening to them.

But obviously I dont have the answers to this puzzle because if IBM's
prime focus now is to move system i customers to its other systems
before they move to a competitor, they would immediately put i5/OS in
a p5 partition and drop i5 hardware all together.

-Steve