Re: Java questions -- JAVA400-L

Frank;

I have been listening to this list for quite awhile now as a way to
monitor what is going on with Java on the AS/400.

I am an independent contractor and have been working on AS/400-S/38
since the early 80's, mostly in manufacturing, inventory management and
distribution environments (BPCS, older MAPICS, JDE).   Most of my
clients so far can't even get interested in ILE/RPG, much less Java.
The only ILE/RPG at these clients is what I have created.  I learned ILE
by doing several small projects on my own AS/400 (S/10), just to get the
hang of it.

As for Java, I am currently taking Java courses at the local University
and hope to be able to apply the knowledge gained to the AS/400 in the
not too distant future.   By taking the night classes at the University,
I get the benefits of learning from professionals in the field and am
forced into doing all that spare time studying/homework to keep up with
the lessons.  Prior to this, I tried to learn on my own by reading the
Java in 21 days types of books, but was not able to do this on a regular
basis.

So far, I am thinking about creating simple server side Java
applications coupled to a Java presentation program, but have not
progressed far enough (or found the time) to do this yet.  I think that
doing several small projects that I find interesting will be fun and
will help to re-inforce the knowledge gained through the University
courses.  To start with, I am leaning toward making all my AS/400 Java
programs as cross platform as possible, just so I know how to do it.
Later on, I can play with the AS/400 specific classes.

In another post to this list, Glen Homer wrote:

"In any case, my advice to *beginning* Java programmers is *not* to use
an IDE, but to code by hand using a text editor and the JDK.  There is
no substitute for this if you want to learn the language.  If you keep
a web browser open with the  JDK/Swing API docs, you can really be quite

productive.  If the IDE generates all the code for you, what makes you
a Java programmer?  Use one later, once you can code simple Java
programs
without looking at the docs."

I will second this.  In the University classes I am taking, we are only
allowed to use a text editor and the JDK.  No IDEs allowed.  All code
must be written by hand (no generated code allowed), since it is felt
that this is the best way to learn Java and all the classes and class
methods.

In addition to the Java classes, I have been through the University C++
certificate program (most has faded through lack of use) and several OO
Analysis and design classes.  I have found that having a good
understanding of Object Oriented concepts, such as polymorphism,
inheritance and encapsulation, has been particularly helpful.  The OO
concepts can also help you in thinking about how to modularize you
existing RPG programs.

I plan to continue to monitor this list and to participate where
appropriate.

DeSarro Frank wrote:

>         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.
>

Dave Murvin, CPIM
DRM Enterprises, Inc.
davem@drme.com
Issaquah, WA  USA


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