RE: Why no header files for RPG?

On Fri, 2004-11-05 at 15:38, Bob Cozzi wrote:
> As a result of this note, I have decided to add a section to my rpgiv.com
> website that will contain nothing but prototypes for OS/400 APIs or C
> runtime functions. I will try to have it up by Monday with some prototypes
> includes. I will post the ones I have in RPG xTools and others may post
> their own so that we can make it a collaborative effort. Of course, in this
> market space, collaborative efforts typically don't pay off too well.
> 
> -Bob

Bob,

I would be willing to donate the few that I have worked out, but you may
already have them... I'll be out of the office until the 15th, but after
that I'll send you what I have if you'd like.

Joel
http://www.rpgnext.com

> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Larry
> Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 3:17 AM
> To: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Why no header files for RPG?
> 
> List,
>  
> Obvioulsy, it was a VERY GOOD THING that IBM went to the trouble of creating
> the integrated language environment. This has afforded the RPG programmer
> access to an unimaginable array of useful utilities - including the abiltiy
> to call functions that were once only accessible using C.
>  
> One thing I have noticed on this list is the constant use of the question:
> "Does anybody have a good RPG prototype for that?"
>  
> So, when IBM created the ILE, why didn't they create RPG and COBOL versions
> of the C standard library header files? Most API documentation displays the
> prototype in C and we (RPG programmers) are left to figure out what such a
> thing as a size_t is. The C programer just bungs a #include <someheader.h>
> statement at the top of their source and they're off.
>  
> It's got to such a point that I'm learning C to enhance my RPG skills. Is
> that a good thing? On the one hand, learning C has given me a better
> understanding of the underlying architecture. On the other hand, it can't
> necessarily be a good thing to have to learn a second language in order to
> get some more leverage out of the first.
>  
> IMHO, these standard functions cane no longer be regarded as C functions
> (regardless of the language they are written in). The moment IBM allowed
> access to the standard functions from all ILE languages, they should have
> provided header files for each language that was integrated.
>  
> So, should RPG programmers need to learn C to better use such things as file
> descriptors, sockets, StdIn, StdOut, MI functions, CGI programming, etc...
> or should IBM provide standard header copysource files to allow all ILE
> languages as easy access to such functions and APIs as C programmers are
> afforded?
>  
> Wouldn't it be nice to simply use a IBM-provided /include directive in your
> program to use such things a qsort, bsearch, cpybla, open, close, connect,
> accept, atoi, bind, etc...
>  
> Your opinions are welcome.
>  
> Cheers
>  
> Larry     
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> 
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