Re: Beginner CL/RPG articles

hi Kurt,

My approach to training new programmers has been to use Jim Buck's books.
http://www.amazon.com/Control-Language-Programming-IBM-i/dp/1583473580
http://www.amazon.com/Programming-RPG-IV-Fourth-Edition/dp/1583041222

I use his books as a both the syllabus and text book for learning the language. I have the new programmer go through one chapter each day and try to do some of the exercises.

Each chapter ends with both exercises and discussion questions, and I try to work with the trainee, going over the discussion questions, and trying to make sure they understand everything. If they are weak on something, I will think of some extra exercises to reinforce the topics they need help with, possibly doing one together with the trainee, and then letting them do another one themselves. Then they move on to the next chapter, etc.

After going through the books (or, at least, the relevant sections) I try to give them real-world assignments that are a good fit for the stuff they learned in the books, and build their real-world knowledge up from there.

I also tend to tailor the approach to the student. If the student seems like he/she struggles with the book, and learns better hands on, I'll maybe do one chapter at a time, followed by a real world project (based on that chapter) followed by another chapter, etc. Inserting more actual programming projects works better for some students... I always take my lead from what seems to work for them.

Sorry for the long-winded post.

On 7/13/2012 12:02 PM, Anderson, Kurt wrote:

In another thread, Jon shared an article he did called The New Basics. http://www.itjungle.com/fhg/fhg061312-story01.html

I'm currently training another employee on the use of CL, and will eventually be moving to RPG. If you're aware of (or wrote) any beginner articles on CL or RPGLE, and you're willing to share, I'd appreciate some links.

Thanks!
Kurt Anderson
Sr. Programmer/Analyst
CustomCall Data Systems, a division of Enghouse Ltd.

Ps. Will be out of the office next week, so I may not follow-up to the thread for a while