RPG IV vs RPG ILE -Reply

Rich wrote:
> What exactly is the difference between RPG
> IV and RPG ILE?

The difference is analogous to the hammer one
uses to drive the nail and the blueprint that
defines how one should build an entire house. 
RPG IV is the "hammer" - its the tool that allows
programming using long field names, D-specs,
etc...everything you've apparently come to love. 
Integrated Language Environment (ILE) enables a
new "blueprint" of how one "builds houses" (or
systems, in our case) - it refers to the new
program model available after rel 3.1, e.g.
bound .vs. static calls, activation groups, binding
directories, etc.  

Hence, even though RPG IV is needed to utilize ILE
features (no CALLB opcode in RPG400, for
example), and thus RPG ILE is (arguably) a
defensible term for the tool, it is a confusing
misnomer, IMHOP.  After all, it is definitely
possible to write a program in the RPG IV
language that does *NOT* utilize features of the
IL Environment.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* This is the Midrange System Mailing List!  To submit a new message,   *
* send your mail to "MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com".  To unsubscribe from     *
* this list send email to MAJORDOMO@midrange.com and specify            *
* 'unsubscribe MIDRANGE-L' in the body of your message.  Questions      *
* should be directed to the list owner / operator: david@midrange.com   *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *