RE: Need some idea's, direction, etc.

["Reeve" <news@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Steve and Michael are both right about running old object for the different
reasons.

The financial guys like this because they're not forced to upgrade
currently-running software.  This process is expensive, time-consuming, and
introduces risk (as compared to uncertainty).

The IT guys hate it because it means they'll have to keep supporting the
worst application in the universe---somebody else's legacy code.

Every shop has really old code that runs fine.  My own applications have
reports untouched since 1989.  When I need to change them, I'll refactor;
until then, it's laissez faire.

If you have the resources to do everything, you have too friggin' many
resources.

Regards,
Reeve Fritchman
Ayers Rock Software LLC
4915 S. West Shore Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33611-3329
(813) 831-8574 (voice)
(813) 832-6391 (fax)
 

> Michael -
> 
> You must have never had to make major application program changes to large
> software systems simply because the operating system or the DBMS was
> being upgraded.
> 
> On PC's:
> DOS                -> Windows 3.0
> Windows          -> Windows 3.1
> Windows 3.1    -> Windows 95
> Windows 95     -> Windows 98
> Windows 98     -> Windows 2000
> Windows 2000 -> Windows XP
> 
> Or on the mainframe having to make application program changes and rewrite
> the JCL simply because you were converting, for example, from DOS to
> VM or MVS.
> 
> Or on Unix systems having to make major application program changes
because
> of changes in the version of Unix being used.
> 
> And the list goes on...
> 
> IBM's philosophy when the S/38 was introduced was simple.
> To paraphrase:  "We will preserve your investment in software".
> I heard this mantra again and again from IBM sales reps.
> 
> And as such, most of the code written on the System/3, System/32,
> System/34,
> System/36, and all code written under all versions of CPF on the S/38 and
> OS/400 on AS/400 and iSeries will run on the new box.
> 
> I think that this is simply amazing.  There is NO other hardware/OS
> platform in the world that can make this claim and deliver.
> 
> Of course, if what you have is old unstructured RPGII indicator-riddled
> code,
> then I can understand your statement - one of my first programming jobs
was
> maintaining System/34 RPGII MAPICS code on a System/38 - (Shudder).
> I used to dream of indicators chasing me in my nightmares!
> 
> Steve Landess
> Austin, Texas
> (512) 423-0935