Re: Benefits of Sub-procedures

> p.s. And I have tried arguing easier maintenance -
> which they will
> always argue that pure ILE RPGIV is harder to
> maintain because of the
> increased number of objects and source members to
> keep track of!

Hey Bob,
What is given in the way of keeping track of Programs
and subroutines?

In the sub-procedure world, we have the ability
package sub-procedures into service programs and
binding directories.  This can work as a 'Table of
Contents' for your applications if a little effort
goes into the design.

Also, even though ILE RPG IV is not object oriented by
any stretch of the imagination, it does allow a more
modular programming approach that can come closer to
the more modern programming styles.

Why would this matter?  Well for one thing, besides
clearer more manageable and less maintenance needed
applications, it will help attract more young
programmers coming out of the colleges & universities
who are not learning procedural programming any
longer.  

A lot of these arguments are coming from the long time
System/34/36/38 staff that have been fat and happy for
a couple of decades now.(that was me by the way up to
about 3+ years ago (I'm still fat & happy though)) If
the iSeries is going to continue, who will replace
these people?  Of course you have Java, Websphere and
many other newer languages & technologies available on
the iSeries, but we will still have the RPG heart &
soul applications that will need to be enhanced,
maintained, and even developed if the language allows
it.

Don McIntyre


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