Re: RPG and free format wanted...

["R. Bruce Hoffman, Jr." <rbruceh@xxxxxxx>]

> one of my favorite stories from school:  In my 3rd year programming
> languages class, the prof discussed a number of popular programming
> languages under a number of different categories.  During the week
> on PL/I, he wrote the title "Significant Advances" on the blackboard,
> left the board blank, and then quietly went on to the next topic!

Hans, it would be hard to make a "significant advance" in a language far
ahead of it's time.

Wow, just think, a language the supports BOTH stream and record oriented
files.

Wow, just think, a language that supports pointers, automatic and static
storage, dynamic storage and structures.

Wow, just think, a language that supports long names for fields, free
format coding specs, no "reserved words".

Wow, just think, a language that supports structured coding techniques,
subprocedures, fixed length variables, variable length character
strings, fixed point, floating point, zoned decimal and packed
decimal... all independant of the hardware platform it runs on.  And all
of this, available in the mid to late 60's.

One problem.  It is a full and supported language on ALL platforms
including PCs, RS/6000, etc, but the AS/400 relegates it to a PRPQ.

RPG pundits can't stand the competition, huh?  <VBG>


-- 
===========================================================
R. Bruce Hoffman, Jr.
 -- IBM Certified AS/400 Professional System Administrator
 -- IBM Certified AS/400 Professional Network Administrator

"The sum of all human knowledge is a fixed constant.
    It's the population that keeps growing!"
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