RE: Lansa vs. Plex -- MIDRANGE-L

Yes, Lansa can be deployed without one extra stitch of code, but not only is
it "not fancy", it's terrible.

I've worked with Lansa Services on web projects, and I've had training from
the best Lansa people, and there is just no one doing Lansa for the Web
without HTML and Javascript.

I have heard some rumors of major announcements coming for Lansa for the
Web, so it may change soon.

As far as all compiles going to C++, the way I understand it is they are
redoing the repository from the ground up.  It will be called I believe
Visual Lansa Repository.   

Supposedly, you will be able to run Visual Lansa components (which are gen'd
into C++)  in batch on the Iseries.  You will be able to have Event
routines, methods, properties, etc., running on the Iseries.

I went to nearly every session at the last Lansa UC on the new repository,
and I still don't completely understand it.  Something major is coming.

I don't want to seem to be the "con" to your pro Lansa argument, because I
use it everyday and I make a living using it.  I'm just not that happy with
Lansa for the Web in it's current state.  

Visual Lansa rocks, though.

Art Tostaine, Jr.
CCA, Inc.
Jackson, NJ 08527


-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@midrange.com
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@midrange.com] On Behalf Of Mark Villa
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 1:48 AM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
Subject: RE: Lansa vs. Plex

~~~If you want to be really webby, you will eventually end up
~~~coding some HTML
~~~and Javascript.  I don't use Lansa/web much, but it happens
~~~I am doing a
~~~project right now.  To be honest, I don't see much advantage
~~~of Lansa/web to
~~~an Iseries RPG shop who is looking to go web over Brad
~~~Stones E-RPG or Joe
~~~Pluta's webfacing tool.


Lansa for the Web can be deployed to a Windows server from an iSeries Web
Server without coding one extra stitch of code (if you don't get too fancy)
For someone that can not avoid 2 or more platforms, this alone might be
justification. It does not work in reverse. I was amazed deployment &
compile actually worked, it took days to let that sink in. The code base
obviously needs to be recompiled into c++ instead of RPG but performance is
unbelievably similar.
The test of a true 4GL.
On the iSeries (if you want) you can alter the source/get the RPG listings,
and you can do this also in C++ on Windows.
My understanding is Lansa is going to make compiles C++ and/or Java on all
platforms. With that said, after the first couple of compiles, I never
looked at anything other than return codes.

I was disappointed that the deployment does not include data in files unless
to the same platform type. It is partially addressed with file transfer
mechanisms.

I was disappointed that Lansa did not have a wizard to convert existing
native screen formats to the WEB. The only re-use is by calling 3GL programs
(which is easy and 5250 or batch) and the existing database can be imported.

Email me offline if you like if web work or multiple platforms is key.

Mark Villa in Charleston SC

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