RE: Java questions

Chris,

I agree with you about the frustration of not being able to take advantage
of superior powers of AS/400 and Java combination.  I hope someone from IBM
(including Lau Geshner) will read this too.

<Chris wrote:>
<The fact that there is so much that can be>
<done with Java right now on the AS/400 is a very frustrating situation for>
<those of us who know the tremendous capabilities the AS/400 has to offer
for>
<web application development.>


Just look at Microsoft.  It gives us so many tools, WORKING sample programs,
and support on the Internet about its products to develop any kinds of
applications.  Those of us who also use its product are in fact sales reps
for Microsoft.  We will tell our friends and such how easy it is to develop
on NT platform with all the help from Microsoft.  And it goes on.  What we
may not discuss too much is how many times NT will crash (or shall I say the
Task has to be ended).  AS/400's superior capability has to be harnessed,
and IBM should be the first one to start.  Is IBM really serious about Java
on the AS/400?  Is it really kidding itself?  I hope not.

IBM, give us some WORKING examples and application snippets in various
development tools, such as Java, Visual Basic, Power Builder etc.  Something
I can download from net, easily put on to the AS/400 and run it on
Unix/Windows platform.  IBM, you can lead the way and provide us, the loyal
AS/400 customers, with EVERYTHING we need to get started without
frustration.  Just because AS/400 does not crash or has superior powers,
does not justify developing for this platform.  Hard core money....., you
know, will dictate the final outcome.  Please don't tell me about VA for
JAVA and OLE DB.  Without a good start, they pale to nothing.  IBM, if you
need help in amplification of this note, feel free to contact me.

Kishor Patel



-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher J. Jewell (Jewell Consulting)
[mailto:jewellcj@jewellconsult.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 1998 5:24 PM
To: JAVA400-L@midrange.com
Subject: RE: Java questions


Frank:

I'm listening in too!

As are many people, I think, I am astounded by how few companies, (at least
here in the SF Bay Area), are at all interested in writing web-based
applications utilizing Java on the AS/400. At my current client-site, the
Java effort is going into Sybase/Oracle/NT environments. This is a great
shame, since they have many wonderfully high-powered AS/400s all running
mission critical systems, which could benefit enormously from some
green-screen applications rewritten in Java.

I believe what we're seeing here the usual issue with our favourite black
box: it still has the aura of: "that reliable but slightly old-fashioned
low-cost-of-use computer which cannot possibly do anything new other than
run our important programs which are all writting in RPG III and which we
dare not have anyone mess with". The fact that there is so much that can be
done with Java right now on the AS/400 is a very frustrating situation for
those of us who know the tremendous capabilities the AS/400 has to offer for
web application development.

As for your specific issue, I would not recommend carrying forward your
record-level access into Java programs. The accepted (and portable standard
is to use JDBC.

Regards

Chris Jewell
mailto://jewellcj@jewellconsult.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-java400-l@midrange.com
> [mailto:owner-java400-l@midrange.com]On Behalf Of DeSarro Frank
> Sent: Monday, December 21, 1998 8:25 AM
> To: java400-l@midrange.com
> Subject: Java questions
>
>
>       I have two questions.  First, there seems to be very little
> activity on
> this java mail list. Could anyone who subscribes to this list identify
> yourself.  I promise I won't start mailing you questions.  I just
> want to
> find out how many people are out there listening.
>       Second, if anyone is trying to develop applications using
> the AS/400
> Toolbox for Java, I'm disappointed by the methods provided for the
> KeyedFile class.  Does anyone have a different opinion? The class does
> not seem to provide the capabilities that would be useful for
> positioning
> and reading through a keyed file.  I know the class provides about a
> dozen methods for accessing records, but when I try to actually start
> using them in a real application, I find them to be lacking.  As an
> example, there does not seem to be a method to simply position
> you to the
> end of a file or to read the last record in a file. You can use the
> methods provided to attempt to simulate these functions, but I find
> myself starting to need to make assumptions about the data to easily
> accomplish these tasks and others.  Any comments or suggestions
> would be
> greatly appreciated. Thanks.
>
>

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