Re: "Webulating" RPG

Jon,

In a message dated 98-02-11 15:20:16 EST, you write:

<<snip>>
> While the code running in San Antonio was real (i.e. the demo was not faked)
it
>  still represented only a fraction of the work needed to produce a full
working
>  product.  We've been working hard on this since the fall, but there's still
a
>  lot of work to do and we've now reached the next decision point (Go (and at
>  what speed), No go, etc.)
>  
>  As part of the process, I'm asking you folks for your comments on the
>  usefulness of such a tool to you.  We've heard from a number of Business
>  Partners who are excited by it, now we'd like to hear from some more of our
>  leading users.
<<snip>>

Were I still developing and marketing applications, I would think that this
product would be a "must have".  JAVA-enabling my products, with all the
inherent cross-platform implications -- without having to retrain my staff?  A
bargain at any price!  Most of the major AS/400 application software vendors
have spent a _fortune_ trying to make their applications platform-independent
over the last few years.  Most have either failed or were only marginally
successful because:

A.  They had to hire "C" programmers, most of whom hadn't a clue about writing
a _business_ application.
B.  The above programmers were not familiar with the functionality of said
applications, nor were they able to interpret the RPG that ran them to
distinguish things that could be "tweaked" in "C".
C.  Those that retrained their staff rather than hiring "C" programmers didn't
bring in "C" specialists to help them write _GOOD_ "C" code.
D.  Both "C" and UNIX aren't _NEARLY_ as "Open" as the hype suggests.
E.  Some used CASE tools, which generate code that is inefficient enough in
its "native" form.

As a consultant, I'd prefer learning native JAVA on my own -- as you never
know what tools the customer has in house.  Were I still developing
applications, I'd say "Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!".  Beats the heck
out of screen scrapers and poorly optimized "C" code.

Of course, many people are too wrapped up in the Y2K effort to need it now.
Then again, these things don't happen overnight.  If you start now, you might
be ready for prime time when everyone is ready to look at _NEW_ technology
again...

JMHO,

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

"If your friend won't lend you fifty dollars, he's probably a close friend."
-- Anonymous
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