Re: Legacy code. Was:Dates

["Chris Rehm" <Mr.AS400@xxxxxxx>]

>But surely, when looking at return on investment, one should also be
>considering competitive advantage. You're not going to try and tell me
>that someone is going to maintain any semblance of competitive
>advantage by coding new RPG II. Even maintaining it has got to have a
>cut off point - frankly I ache looking at tricky cycle stuff, and I
>think the same is true for most newer /400 developers.

Sometimes, it isn't possible to convince a company to move. A while ago I
was approached about going to work for a consulting firm and I sat down
with the owners and we talked. It turned out that the lion's share of
their revenue came from maintaining 5360s. The machines were installed by
labor unions which used them to do some basic accounting functions which
did not require much in the way of resources.

Now, the guys servicing those accounts were all "old timers". Their skill
sets were well suited to the work. I never met the end users as I decided
not to take the position. 

I suppose that if you did not wish to maintain that code, you need to
break out your spreadsheet and show the customer why it saves him money to
move or show yourself why you're better off without that customer.

>We're never going to move the AS/400 up as a serious NT kicker while
>we're stuck in the 1970s.

NT can't hold a candle to the AS/400. The above quote shows a serious
misconception. In a few more years, NT will have progressed far enough to
actually be able to compete with the AS/400 of today. It doesn't look like
Rochester intends to make that a sitting target.

>TIm Lennon.
>Thomas Miller & Co., London.
>Lennontc@mutual.co.uk




Chris Rehm
Mr.AS400@ibm.net
You have to ask yourself, "How often can I afford to be unexpectedly out of 
business?" 
Get an AS/400.
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