RE: Modernizing applications (was: Explaining single level store to non ipeople)

Today the shift in technologies to Web 2.0 based technology, AJAX and
browser centric tooling around JavaScript, Google Widgets, Dojo, etc.
coupled with SOA or at least Web Service based applications are the

direction

of today and our beloved old iSeries does not play well in the space.

I agree with you... to a point. However, I'm not sure that it's the
iSeries that doesn't play well in that space, it's the iSeries
programmers. Given the move to cloud computing and SaaS solutions I
think a big beefy reliable box like an i could have a large role to play
in the industry for many years to come. Let's face it, SaaS is nothing
but 5250 with pretty pictures. :-)

Unfortunately it's not the box that's holding us back, it's the
programmers. I know I've pushed for many years -- a decade? -- that i
programmers need to be learning new technologies, and I'm not alone. At
this point everyone should be as conversant w/HTML as they are with DDS.
But most aren't. Call it apathy, call it ignorance, or call it short
sightedness I don't care. The fact is if we (the i community) was
serving up modern web applications off the i no one would be calling it
old. The i hardware and OS can do it all, the programmers can't. (Yes,
there are obvious exceptions, but I'm talking mainstream i programmer
here) For a company it can be simpler and cheaper to replace than retool
the existing applications, and the current crop of programmers can't do
the new stuff. Don't believe me? Then what aren't they doing it?

-Walden