Re: Sources for External Data Structures

boothm@earth.goddard.edu
> All these new additions...  :(    Great for all of you above-average
> geeks, but for those few of us below average geeks all these new opcodes
> and clever helpers are just landmines waiting to blow our nether regions
> off 5 years from now when we have to maintain the code.
>
> RPG is turning into a pretty tough language for ordinary programmers.  I,
> for one, think there is already plenty of functionality.
>
> It sort of reminds me of Lake Woebegone where all of the children are
> above average. --

Although we hear lots of requests for new functions in RPG, we also hear
comments like yours.  There are RPG programmers who have trouble keeping
up with all the changes in the language.  In most cases, using the new
features requires upgrading to RISC hardware.  (And why upgrade if your
applications work just fine on CISC machines?)

We do try to understand who our customers are and try to design our
products with all of them in mind, and not just the "above-average
geeks".

Don't forget one thing, though.  If you can program a computer, you can
do something that 98% of the population can't!

Oh, and another thing:  I know how intimidating recent advances in
programming can be.  I've all but given up trying to understand C++.
(Hint:  If you want to learn about OO, stay away from C++!)  I know I
should learn more about Java, but other things in my life demand my
attention.  (Such as gardening, model railroading, and genealogy.)
Don't forget that few "above-average geeks" got that way by working
8 hour days!  :-)

Cheers!  Hans

Hans Boldt, ILE RPG Development, IBM Toronto Lab, hboldt@vnet.ibm.com
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