Re: Take an active role in the future of IBM i

Jon will be happy you hold him in such high regard. ;-)

I don't think it's a conflict being a PHP advocate and an IBM i advocate at
the same time. While PHP is not a platform specific language and this is
indeed a big plus for the IBM i developers who learn it, it still runs on
the IBM i which is also a big deal. I don't want to get into a religious
discussion about the relative virtues of PHP, Java, and CGIDEV2 so I'll keep
this short. In my experience, an RPG developer will go from not knowing PHP
at all to being able to develop a production ready application using PHP in
a MUCH shorter time than Java or even .NET (and without learning all the ins
and outs of Object-Oriented programming). While CGIDEV2 is a great tool and
paves the way for web development using RPG, it is not my tool of choice
specifically because it is platform dependent. If I am a master at
developing web-apps using CGIDEV2 I can't turn around and use that knowledge
anywhere else. As you point out, in today's world that's not such a good
career move.

By the way, you have all motivated me to get off my backside and record the
"Why PHP on IBM i" session that I gave at the Ocean Technical Conference.
When it's available I'll send a link.

- Jeff

p.s. Jon, thanks again for the review on Amazon.

On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 5:32 AM, Michael Ryan <michaelrtr@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I'll pick up a copy too. We can buy this through midrange.com, right?
David?

On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 12:43 AM, Richard Schoen <richard@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

As a PHP book writer, if Paris gives you good marks, you must have
something going for you, even though I've never heard of you :-)

Since I'm about to learn a little PHP I'll probably even buy a copy of
your book to support the cause. (Since I know how little commission
these things actually pay.)

In terms of the iManifest, I understand the need to preserve the
platform as I am a staunch advocate for the iSeries. I have developed on
the box since 1988.

I just don't understand the overall iManifest plan other than the fact
you are looking for seed funding to place ads.

There's a bit of a dichotomy for a PHP guy to be promoting this plan as
teaching PHP, Java or .Net for that matter prepares an iSeries developer
for possible life after i. While that's a good thing in today's world,
knowing a language that plays on any box in the world including a MAC
doesn't help to differentiate the i a whole lot.

Regards,
Richard Schoen
RJS Software Systems Inc.
"Get the information you need. Now!"
Document Management, Workflow, Report Delivery, Forms and Business
Intelligence
Email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web Site: http://www.rjssoftware.com
Tel: (952) 736-5800
Fax: (952) 736-5801
Toll Free: (888) RJSSOFT
------------------------------

iManifest is not just a series of ads. That's just the beginning. The
original Japanese
declaration lays out some the goals but the basic objectives are:


- To revitalize the IBM i market in Japan and increase the customer
base.
- To assure IBM i customers, resellers and ISVs selling IBM i
solutions
that IBM i will not only survive but continue to prosper.
- To inform the wider IT community of the unique value proposition of
the
IBM i server.

As an IBM i developer, user or reseller, why would you not get involved?
There's no downside for us.

- Jeff


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