RE: Look Mom - No Application Servers

> From: albartell
> 
> The problem is now that the code needs to be change managed. Let's say for
> the sake of argument that there are 5 production iSeries boxes that need
> the
> new Java/PHP code. Let's also say that I have the first version out there
> (installed manually) and have started to work on the next version. At this
> point change management has to start and the question becomes:

This presupposes that you are doing as much code in Java as you are in RPG<
and that the Java code changes as often as the RPG.  With a proper
framework, this isn't the case.  Sure, you need to manage and distribute the
code, but with a good framework, you'll do this LESS often than writing it
all from scratch, because you don't have the constant change associated with
reinventing the wheel.


> "When my application breaks how many people need to be involved to debug
> it?
> (i.e. J2EE front end is calling RPG business logic through stored
> procedures. Both Java guys are out this week so we can't fix it until
> Monday)"

Again, the idea is that you put together a simple framework.  A "J2EE front
end" properly written is a couple of thousand lines of code, if that.  If
your RPG folks can't understand the code in a simple JSP framework, there's
no way they can write a SOAP envelope.

And even if you have one hotshot who manages to cobble together a homebrewed
SOAP interface chances are only that one person understands it, and when he
takes a hike, EVERYBODY is stuck.  In fact, because it's written in "hotshot
RPG" you can't even hire someone to fix it, at least not without a long
learning curve.  At least if you use industry standard tools you can hire a
consultant to get you out of a bind.


> I lived through such a challenge in a medium sized shop (25 or so
> programmers). It can get messy/expensive/cumbersome fast when new
> languages
> are introduced.  A shop just needs to make sure it is a well thought out
> decision and ensure it fits with their long-term IT strategy and not a
> short term "I found it free online" fix.

It's also a new reality that these days you need to make sure you fnid the
right tool for the job, and that except in very specific situations, this is
no longer a pure RPG question.  Leave RPG for what it's good at, and learn
how to embrace the other technologies available.

Joe