RE: AS/400 RPG Certification Test

> This thread has been very interesting.  I will be completing my BS degree in
> January.  I have been in the AS/400 industry for 20 years.  I have been
> trying to decide what my next "educational" step will be.  I am having a
> difficult time make the decision.  I have four alternatives.  1.  Learn RPG
> IV and get my IBM certification; 2.  Learn JAVA which would give me an
> inroad to Lotus Notes programming and thereby make me more marketable; 3.
> Learn more about JD Edwards and get a JDE technical certificate; 4.  Get a
> Masters degree.
>
> Decision, decisions.  Does anyone have any thoughts?  Thanks in advance.

1.  If your background on the AS/400 is in RPG then I think that learning RPG IV
      is a "no brainer". Learning RPG IV is not difficult. It may initially 
seem hard, but
      the learning curve is pretty short. There are several good books 
available and
      I like Cozzi's the best. Go to COMMON and concentrate on RPG IV and ILE.
      There are many excellent speakers (including Paris, Gantner and Cozzi), 
etc.
      The learning curve is easy (in my view) and the payback is worth it in 
more
      readable and maintanable code. This option should be taken regardless of 
any
      other option selected.

2.  This is really two separate options in my view. Lotus Notes is much more 
than
      Java and/or the web. Java can extend Notes, but is not the primary focus.
      Learning Java appears to be a good direction, but not neccessarily 
because of
      Notes. Learning Notes/Domino is another good direction (and one that I 
have
      taken up). Java is also on my list but not right now.

3.  I'm not a big proponent of packaged software, although I realize that it is 
a huge
      (and lucrative) market. JDE is not the only package out there that you can
      specialize in. SAP appears to be an up and coming package as well as some
      others. The Y2K issue has helped this area and I suspect it will flourish 
the next
      couple of years.

4.  Can't see where getting a masters will get you any where in your carreer 
(at least
      in the current IS environment). It will look impressive and make you feel 
good.
      But, I don't see where this will give you an advantage in the 
marketplace. 

Joe Teff
Information Technology Consultant
IBM Certified Specialist - AS/400 RPG Programmer
Quality Data Systems
Minneapolis, MN

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