Re: What makes Java so special?

[Chris Rehm <Mr.AS400@xxxxxxx>]

** Reply to note from "Brad Grier" <bgrier@probe.net> Mon, 17 Nov 1997 16:09:48 
-0600
>   
> Not even JDBC calls to the AS/400 are necessarily portable to another
> database. This is particularly true if you use DB2/400 specific functions in
> your SQL like RRN() or CURRENT_TIMESTAMP. By and large, sticking to SQL via
> JDBC provides a high level of portability.
>   
> Using data queues or the record level access classes available in the
> Toolkit could hamper later efforts to port your code to another database.

I know this may seem like arguing semantics, but I think it's valid to
point out that using AS/400 specific calls does not limit your
application's portability. The application will still run on any Java
machine. It does, as you point out, mean that the host machine accessed
will need to support those operations. Data queues are not part of DB2, but
it could be that other DB2 versions, and even other SQL databases will
support RRN(). 

I agree, Brad, that it's important to keep it in mind when you are coding
whether or not you are using a standard or not. I know that when I used to
code C, I would never use any compiler extensions "just because". 
   
> Brad Grier
 

Chris Rehm
Mr.AS400@ibm.net

How often can you afford to be unexpectedly out of business?
Get an AS/400.
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