Re[2]: IBM pushing Java

[eric.delong@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

     Sure, as a programmer, it easy to look at an application and say 
     "Gee, this is a bunch o' $#@%, we ought to rewrite it." However, 
     the initial response by management is ALWAYS leave it alone. How 
     does one quantify the long term benefits of a costly rewrite? How 
     can one prove that a rewrite will produce a better system? Which 
     will provide the most benefit for the least expense? I'm sorry to 
     say that the bean counters rarely understand the real issues 
     involved in maintaining legacy systems, and invariable fall back to 
     "leave it alone". 
     
     JMO,
     eric.delong@pmsi-services.com


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: RE: IBM pushing Java 
Author:  <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com > at INET_WACO
Date:    3/22/99 8:14 AM


The term "brittle" in this sense makes complete sense!  I used to wonder why
some programmers would spend days on a small change, and i come to find out
it is because they feel that "if I change one thing it will break something
else."

This is a sure sign of:
1.  Poor design
2.  Band-aid after bandaid applied

Time for a re-write!  :)

Brad

> -----Original Message-----
> From: boothm@ibm.net [mailto:boothm@ibm.net]
> Sent: Saturday, March 20, 1999 11:07 AM
> To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject: Re: IBM pushing Java
> 
> 
> I have a question along these lines:  I refer to much of the 
> old code that I see as being brittle.  I don't know exactly 
> why I started using that term but it does seem appropriate.  
> Touch something, and something breaks somewhere else.  change 
> a line of code and suddenly some whole section starts 
> behaving differently. 
> 
> Have others noticed this?  Does this word make sense to 
> others, or am I speaking badly?  It is important to me 
> because I feel we must constantly fight against this 
> brittleness or suddenly we have applications that are no 
> longer useful or repairable.  Its usually at this point that 
> I hear the "We need some PCs to do this" speech.
> 
> 
> In <199903200957_MC2-6EB2-7239@compuserve.com>, on 03/20/99 
>    at 09:56 AM, John Carr <74711.77@compuserve.com> said:
> 
> 
> >BTW,  With that management attitude,  How come you still 
> aren't useing 
> >RPGII ?    And I bet they are the same Management who complain about 
> >their applications are getting older.
> 
> >John Carr
> >EdgeTech
> 
> -- 
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> boothm@ibm.net
> Booth Martin
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> 
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