RE: Java and RPG in the future of the iSeries

> From: Nathan Andelin
>
> Developers who insist on platform independence are the one crying the
> loudest for RPG's demise, but in so doing they're effectively calling
for
> the demise of the iSeries as well.  I'm not sure they realize this.
Then
> again, they probably don't care.

Well, there are some developers who truly believe in the platform
independence concept.  I think they're a bit misguided by hype, but
they'll learn.  All of us learn, even me.  <grin>

But there are also more insidious forces.  The Java consultants who
aren't getting major application development contracts simply drool over
the prospect of rewriting a perfectly good RPG application suite.
That's as close to a bottomless contract gig as you can get.  And then
there are the hardware folks who want to sell you either the latest and
greatest, or the biggest and fastest, when all you really need is a
little model 825.  These are the same guys telling you that server farms
are cheap.  Yeah, just like razor blades are cheap.  But man, it adds up
quick.


> I believe Java will progress more rapidly, when integrating with, as
> opposed
> to assimilating all native capabilities.  I feel sorry for developers
and
> users who insist on wholesale platform assimilation, and feel sick
about
> the waste of such an effort.

I couldn't agree more.  However, until someone steps forward and really
proves the benefits of integration, all we're going to hear is hype.
And that's why I want to get this site up and functioning.  I worked my
butt off this weekend learning the software and I'm pretty certain it
will do what we need, at least for the short term.

I hope everybody participates.  Including Dieter and the other Java
purists, because we need to see where they are coming from as well.  If
we try to avoid the fact that in certain cases EJB does make sense, then
we will be as guilty of being short-sighted as the folks who insist that
RPG is dead.  What I want to do is come up with some honest answers to
the questions "When should I use Java and when should I use RPG?"

Joe