RE: CGI programming

I'd have to strongly disagree.  The APIs are available and used for CGI
programming in RPG.  The database limits (which I don't see) have nothing to
do with it.  

RPG does not have to be dynamic.  There is not such thing as a dynamic
language.  The DATA is what is dynamic.  CGI isn't a programming language,
it's a method of programming.  All the APIs that can be used by C on the
AS/400 are available for RPG or COBOL programs as well.  Just look at the
QTMHCGI service program in QTCP.  That's all you really need for the
standard in/out APIs.

RPG can do the same CGI programs that any other language can.  Especially
with ILE.  I don't see your point about RPG's limits.

If you're comparing RPG with Net.Data, there isn't a difference.  Even with
Net.Data you'll need (at some point) to use a real programming language, not
just SQL.  And Net.Data uses the same "limiting" database that RPG does for
CGI programming.  

"Instead I use RPG to validate,
create, summarize and extract information. That's what it's best at."

This quote is in direct conflict with your ideas about RPG as a CGI
programming language and the statement that the database is limited.  CGI
program is exactly what you point out in your statement.  CGI programming is
not just putting pretty pictures on a web page, which RPG can do just the
same.


Bradley V. Stone
Taylor Corporation - OASIS Programmer/Analyst   
bvstone@taylorcorp.com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ken Slaugh [SMTP:ken.slaugh@cm-inc.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 10:50 AM
> To:   'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com'
> Subject:      RE: CGI programming
> 
> I don't believe there is such a thing as CGI programming in RPG.
> 
> When I went to a nationally televised AS/400 Internet enablement course,
> RPG was used with a number of API calls to produce dynamic web pages.
> RPG IS NOT DYNAMIC. In theory, there is no limit to the length of a web
> page. The RPG language and the native OS/400 database has limits all
> over it. Try using unlimited length variable length strings, then pass
> them to other programs in your application. This is not for the weak.
> The RPG authors at IBM  would definitely disagree with me. They just
> seem not to accept any alternatives. If they would look over the
> technology fench and listened to their neighbors, they probably would
> find other practical solutions.
> 
> I've been an RPG programmer for 20 years and a Visual Basic programmer
> for 5 or so. Because of VB language structure, my RPG skills have
> improved. I still call myself an AS/400 RPG programmer, but I'm not
> planning to use it to create web pages. Instead I use RPG to validate,
> create, summarize and extract information. That's what it's best at.
> 
> Ken Slaugh
> Senior Programmer/System Analyst
> AS/400 Professional Network Administrator/MSE
> Specialist - Client Access/400
> Chouinard & Myhre, Inc.
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:       Vishnu Vardhan A [SMTP:Vishnu.A@bflsoftware.com]
> > Sent:       Monday, May 10, 1999 9:28 PM
> > To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> > Subject:    CGI programming
> > 
> > 
> > Can anyone explain what is CGI programming in RPG?
> > 
> > Thanks in advance.
> > Vishnu Vardhan A
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