Re: Education

[Jerry Adams <jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rob,

I've been going to COMMON for > 20 years and think it's tops.  But I'd 
have to take exception to your statement or, at least, say "it depends."

COMMON sessions are not geared to teaching RPG from ground zero.  They 
are geared for vastly improving your skills ala Cozzi, Paris, et al.  If 
one doesn't know RPG fundamentals, there is no session at COMMON (that I 
have ever seen) that will get you started.  The old IBM PI classes or 
self-paced learning courses were the places to go for that, but I don't 
think those exist any more.  If one or the other is still around, take 
it; only takes a week or less.

I haven't been to RPG World, but my guess is that Bob and his crew don't 
gear their sessions to start-ups either.  (Chime in if I err, Bob.) 

RPG fundamentals aren't that difficult to learn.  I worked with a COBOL 
programmer who learned it by reading the RPG manual over a weekend.  
I've taught COBOL to RPGers, and visa versa, and COBOLers seem to pick 
up RPG quicker; probably because of all of the housekeeping chores they 
get to drop. 

Anyway, that being said, I'd suggest a local tech or junior college 
nearby - if you can find one that teaches RPG (there are still a few).  
Failing that (which is likely), read the RPG IV manual to get the spec 
sheets and general rules down; don't get bogged down on the details on 
the first pass.

Then go to COMMON. 



        * Jerry C. Adams
*iSeries/i5 Programmer/Analyst
B&W Wholesale Distributors, Inc.* *
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rob@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

> COMMON is tops to get both ends of that spectrum.
>
> Rob Berendt
>