RE: RPG Cycle (was: RPG IV Certification)

Most rpg programmers have evolved past the cycle by now; but there are
undoubtedly many old rpg cycle programs still out there which may need
to be maintained, so knowing the cycle could always be helpful.

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Trevor Perry
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 3:21 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: RPG Cycle (was: RPG IV Certification)

Sharon,

You can do most of your cycle programs with one line of SQL. You should
stop
comparing the cycle to anything else - it is not a modern language.


Trevor


On 8/20/07 3:16 PM, "Sharon Wintermute" <SWintermute@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

You aren't the only teacher around. I have taught classes as well so

I know

better.
As to languages, I know far more than just RPG so don't try to lecture

me.

I can do in 3 lines in the cycle that takes more in non-cycle.

Try sticking to the old saying "if you can't say something nice, don't

say

anything at all."


Sharon


-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx

[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

On Behalf Of Trevor Perry
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 2:11 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: RPG Cycle (was: RPG IV Certification)

Sharon,

I used to teach a class called RPG for Performance and

Maintainability. I

always had programmers who were Java or COBOL programmers who would

thank me

for giving a session that they could understand. Some reality, eh?

In this world where a programmer can learn a new language in a few

weeks,

why would we not expect a programmer to understand a program written

in

another language? Most differences between languages boil down to

syntax -

other than the cycle, probably :-) To say that a programmer should be
limited to one language - now you are not in the real world.

And the beauty of the NEW techniques is that they work, they are

easier to

maintain, and improve responsiveness of the IT organization. Who says

a new

technique would require 80 lines of code over 3 for a cycle program?

Using

ILE with the ability to plug in modules, I expect most new programs

are MUCH

shorter than your old RPG - cycle or not.

I started with the cycle - 25 years ago. I maintain programs that use

the

cycle - for most of those 25 years and also in 2007. If you want to

tell me

to shut up, you may want to try another approach.

Trevor



On 8/20/07 3:01 PM, "Sharon Wintermute" <SWintermute@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

wrote:

Trevor,

I usually don't respond to this kind of rhetoric, but it is quite

obvious you

do not have a clue what reality is all about.

The idea that a COBOL programmer should be able to maintain RPG is

not valid.

That's like saying a Java programmer can maintain PL/1.

The beauty of some of the old techniques is THAT THEY WORK.

Writing code in 3 lines versus 80 is definitely a plus. This also

reduces

program size, memory requirements, etc. You should use whatever

technique

gives the best result "for that application". Sometimes its cycle,

usually

it
is not.

Since you plainly don't know how or why to use the cycle stay quiet.


Sharon Wintermute

PS. Under 50 and have used the cycle.

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