Re: VRPG And/Or Java

John,

In a message dated 97-08-24 13:31:29 EDT, you write:

> Hey Ya'll (or Use Guys)

(Bi-regional, I LOVE it!  How about an equivalent of "ca va" (sorry, english
keyboard), "que pasa", and the like? :-))

>  If there was a discussion about VA/RPG(Visual RPG) and Java Which of the 
>  next two choices(or both)would people be in favor of.
>  
>  1. VA/RPG being able to generate Java Byte Code.
>  2. A conversion product that would take RPG code and generate Java source.
>  
>  Option 1 would allow you to generate GUI applications using the scripting
>  language you might have been using for 5,10,20 years. (Same old IFEQ,
SETLL,
>  DOUEQ<g>, CHAIN, etc.).  The VA/RPG product BTW has a conversion tool that

>  will take an existing (say) subfile program and convert it to a GUI PC
app.
>  Option 1 would also allow you to generate object code(Java bytecode) which
>  would run anywhere Java will run,  from VA/RPG source.

Hard to say on either issue without a point of reference.  Having seen code
conversions, I would think that 1 generating native code would be preferable
to 2 converting code that was possibly already inefficient.  Of course, the
latter assumes that code generated under 1 is efficient.

>  Option 2 would be a CVTRPGSRC type thing that converts RPG(or VA/RPG to 
>  Java source.  With the idea that you will put a way your coding sheets
>  (what ever they are) for the { } world of Java.
>  
>  How many would like to continue to use the scripting language you have
been
>  using for years. Or switch to Java(C like as it is)?

Again, no point of reference personally...

>  If Option 2, Please make reference the plans concerning the inevitiable 
>  reality of having to have to still deal with 25,000 to 500,000 lines of 
>  existing RPG applications that you will still have to have the skill set
>  on staff to maintain. 

Ah yes, but will our debugger under option 1 show us the JAVA or the RPG code
:-)?

>  And also what language would you use for the typical batch(Monthend A/P,
>  G/L, etc. Not to mention Trigger programs, APPC programs, etc. that a 
>  visual language doesn't deal with to nicely) type functions? 

Depends upon its efficiency.  I seem to recall that, in the early days of the
/38, many shops wrote interactive programs in COBOL and batch jobs in RPG
based upon relative efficiency and programmer availability.  How does JAVA
compare in general?  How does converted JAVA compare to VA-generated JAVA,
compared to "conventional" JAVA?

>  I'm very curious about your feelings on this.  (Give it some thought to 
>  my last couple of points.)

There are mine, as uninformed as they are...

Regards,

Dean Asmussen
Enterprise Systems Consulting, Inc.
Fuquay-Varina, NC  USA
E-Mail:  DAsmussen@AOL.COM

"A promising world is built on small acts of kindness and compassion." --
Anonymous
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