Re: QCMDEXC question

Mark Lazarus wrote:

> Bruce,
>
> At 01:39 PM 1/21/98 CST, you wrote:
>
> <<snip>>
>
> >I don't believe I would necessarily classify this as a CL shortcoming;
> >for sure ILE CL is not considered a language of minimal usage that is
> >not being "fixed" and enhanced.
>
>  I have to disagree w/ both of the above statements.
>
> 1)  How can you say that a bug w/ a workaround is not a shortcoming?  And
> yes, it is a bug!
>

<<snip>>

>     This does not sound like IBM is serious about enhancing CL.
>

<<snip>>

>
>
> >Bruce Vining (wondering what kind of response the messenger will get on
> >this one)
>
>  You asked for it!! :-)   :-)
>
>  -mark
>

Mark,

While I agree with your statements about the shortcomings of CL as an
"application language" I'm left wondering if that was _ever_ the languages
intent.  IMHO I've always viewed CL as a program wrapper.

A few years back there were trade rag articles about REXX ("The OS without a
brain" or some such) and for those of us that have a S/36 or S/38 background we
are accustomed to writing some form for procedural driver to a command that
executes the REAL programs.  Some may use REXX in the same context as I'm sure
the majority use CL, while the C programmers out there are probably scratching
their heads wondering "What do we need another language for?"

It may be time for us to look at another "callable" for the command processor 
and
CL may not be the best suited for the ILE environment.

I also recall some early applications for the S/38 that even used RPG for their
drivers because the early versions of CL were lacking in loop control,
subroutines, error message handling, etc. which sound very much like the
"shortcomings" you mention.

I'm struggling with letting go of CL for the shear fact that my S/3x background
has conditioned me to willingly accept a OS unique language to drive my
applications.  Maybe with ILE we have gained another choice.

I like REXX but going there will probably leave me with the "Maytag repairman"
lonely feeling I had as an OS/2 bigot. :)

Regards,

James W. Kilgore
qappdsn@ibm.net

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