Re: Free-Form vs Fixed Form.

On 1/2/06, Bob Cozzi <cozzi@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Steve,
> I'm a big non-/free advocate, but I don't see what using ILE has to do with
> /Free. You can certainly make the move to free format, or partial free
> format without using any of the ILE pieces, such as binding, modules,
> service programs, etc. Certainly whether or not you use /free has no baring
> on the use of subprocedures either.
>

ok, but using /free w/o ILE means you are limited in how much code you
are reusing.  The argument against free on its own is admittedly weak.
The position that sql procedures are much better suited to batch
programming than rpg free is I think very defensible. If an as400 shop
has the choice of learning one new technology and the choices are rpg
sql free and sql procedures, sql procedures is the slam dunk better
choice.

-Steve



> -Bob Cozzi
> www.RPGxTools.com
> RPG xTools - Enjoy programming again.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Steve Richter
> Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 7:49 PM
> To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
> Subject: Re: Free-Form vs Fixed Form.
>
> On 1/2/06, Mike Pantzopoulos - (H/O) <mpantzopoulos@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > I am trying to initiate some debate at my site with regards to free-form
> > RPG.
> >
> > I have been trying to think of the pros & cons of free form vs fixed
> > form. Personally I would prefer to use free-form. However, trying to be
> > fair and balanced, I was trying to think of arguments as to why we
> > should not move to free form. I can't think of any. Does anybody have
> > any views on why a move to free-form is not a good thing?
>
> well I think I can argue anything,  so let me give it a shot ...
>
> Consider that if people in your dept dont know both sql procedures and
> free form rpg, it is a much better use of the programmers time to
> learn sql procedures.  a strong case can be made that rpg is not the
> best choice when writing sql batch applications. sql procedure code is
> more portable and easier to code in than rpg sql.
>
> using ile service programs introduces more complexity into your
> application.  the whole signature scheme does not make much sense to
> me in that *prv signatures do not match up ( at least for me ) the
> export numbers from the calling module to the called service program.
> ( see what I mean about the increased complexity! )  Adding exports to
> a service program should scare the operations manager.
>
> To use rpg free, you also have to understand ILE.  Having to know ILE
> steepens the learning curve quite a bit.  ( how many people on this
> list know how to use opdesc so that an rpg free procedure can be
> effectively called from a CLLE module? )
>
> All this extra knowledge does help a lot, but it does not really get
> you to the programmers promised land like java and c# do.  ILE RPG
> does not provide a managed code environment, no try ... finally
> blocks, no throwing and catching of exceptions and no namespace
> support.  So to write solid applications in ILE RPG you have to think
> more than programmers of other languages and write more code.   Kind
> of like two steps forward when you learn RPG ILE and one step back to
> write the extra needed code.
>
> In light of the fact that we are not supposed to be writing anymore
> green screen applications and batch code is better written in sql
> procedures, how much is gained by moving up to rpg free?
>
> -Steve
>
>
> >
> > Mike Pantzopoulos
> >
> > EIG-Ansvar Limited
> > Tel  : 61 (3) 9614 3535
> > Fax: 61 (3) 9614 2740
> >
> >
> >
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