RE: Future of AS/400 ??????????????:(:

Appearently I was not clear.  Based on personal experience, it is my opinion
that AS/400 is not a major player as a web server or, more specifically, as
a server generating or delivering HTML or running server-side scripts
triggered by web-based applications.  Based on personal experience, it is my
opinion that C is the root of all the languages used for web application
programming (whether they are CGI, Java, or anything else).

Continuing in my effort to be clear, I am not opposed to RPG in these roles
nor do I assert that RPG cannot do well in these roles.  Based on personal
experience, it is my opinion that C, Java, etc are the current winners.  I
will advise customers and make personal training and career decisions based
on that opinion.  Based on other experience, it is my opinion that OS/2 has
a better kernel than Windows - better in the sense that it is more tolerant
of configuration problems and anomolous hardware and software behavior and
that it does a better job of priority-based task preempting.  The better
kernel didn't win so being better isn't the only quality that matters.

It is easier to accept "conventional wisdom" than it is to think for
yourself but I didn't do that.  Please stop trying to tell me that I didn't
think about this.  Being "swayed by the majority" is what I keep trying to
tell you about.  The majority of web servers are Unix, C, Java, and CGI.  I
am swayed.  When RPG takes over the world, I will report that, in my
opinion, RPG has taken over the world.

I don't care about the boxes or the languages (because they don't care back)
but I do care about the people.  I wish you well.  Keep helping people use
RPG in this role.  Don't try to blow smoke, it is unbecoming.

Richard Jackson
(speaking for myself)

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-rpg400-l@midrange.com [mailto:owner-rpg400-l@midrange.com]On
Behalf Of Stone, Brad V (TC)
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2001 10:04 AM
To: 'RPG400-L@midrange.com'
Subject: RE: Future of AS/400 ??????????????:(:


I didn't disagree that the As/400 is a marginal player as a web server, and
I aplogize if I insulted you.  That was not the purpose.  The Ford Taurus is
the best selling car, but it isn't the best car.

The simple matter of fact is that there is no way to determine who is the
real player as far as web servers go because it's changing so often.  Also,
how do you compare a cluster fo 150 NT servers to 1 720?  You can't, so
things are scewed by that.  Also, the As/400 wasn't touted as a web server
until recently (which is not our fault).

I judge that Cold Fusion is a big player because I know what .cfm extentions
means in a URL.  I used to see a lot of .asp, but that's going away.  I see
a LOT of .cfm applications (which are dog slow).

My point is it's easier to take "the path of least resistance" instead of
blazing your own.  Sometimes we need to remember that when we state what we
feel is our opinion, but more likely our opinion because of being swayed by
the majority.  It's not meant as an insult.

Brad

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Jackson [mailto:richardjackson@richardjackson.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2001 9:19 AM
> To: RPG400-L@midrange.com
> Subject: RE: Future of AS/400 ??????????????:(:
>
>
> Brad:
>
>
> I did not "We can Read PC week and regurgitate all the hype" and I am
> insulted by your accusation.
>
> I just deleted my carefully crafted 2-page reply to your
> innuendo.  You
> don't want to read it and I don't need to say it.  If you
> think that I am
> wrong, please show me where to verify that 10 percent or more
> of all web
> hosts are AS/400s.  If you can't, I say that the 400 is a
> marginal player.
> Since the Digital port of RPG died years ago, the king of the
> hill is C.
> This is not an attack on the box or the language, it is a
> statement about
> employees and jobs and opportunities and where they are.
>
> Richard Jackson
> (speaking for myself)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-rpg400-l@midrange.com
> [mailto:owner-rpg400-l@midrange.com]On
> Behalf Of Stone, Brad V (TC)
> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001 7:48 AM
> To: 'RPG400-L@midrange.com'
> Subject: RE: Future of AS/400 ??????????????:(:
>
>
> --snip--
>
> > RPG is not
> > the language of choice for creating web pages or generating
> > HTML - CGI,
> > Perl, and Java are much more common.
>
> Says you.
>
>   Most of the people who
> > know how to
> > create excellent web sites know those languages and know how
> > to work in a
> > Unix plus Windows environment
>
> Someone read PC week too much.  Cold Fusion is the popular
> choice in TRW.
> And Cold Fusion, well, I'll stop there.  Again, you're
> confusing "pretty
> pictures" with "useful site".
>
> - Unix for the Apache web host and CGI
> > environment and Windows for the browser.  Your RPG
> > programmers are still
> > providing data to the DHTML apps but they aren't in the web
> > business at all.
>
> so teach them (or give them the chance to learn)!  With their
> knowlegde of
> the business they are the PERFECT choice for this job.  But,
> close-minded
> management who relate RPG with Green Screen and PCs with
> Pretty Web Pages
> are screwing it all up, and screwing their RPG programmers out of
> advancement into new challenges.  I'm sure you have at least
> a few RPGers
> who would do Web serving.
>
> Ever seen what type of system someone who doesn't know your
> system will
> make?  Do you hear those screams?  Those are your RPG
> programmers screaming
> about the file layouts they created that don't even belong in
> any "normal
> form" category that they have to deal with..
>
> Even if your RPGers aren't web programmers and don't want to
> be, they should
> be involved in the design process.  But until people realize
> that online
> sites are not just pretty pictures we wouldn't even think
> about using the
> best resource available.  Consultants know it all, right.  Pffft.
>
> The AS/400 is a good machine.  RPG is a good language.  We
> can Read PC week
> and regurgitate all the hype but when it comes down to it if
> you haven't
> used Java or XML, don't tout it's strengths.  Likewise don't
> say RPG can't
> do what Perl of Java can because it can, and MUCH easier.
> Try file access
> for starters.  And with free format RPG coming out, there should be NO
> excuses.
>
> Brad
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