RE: Modernising the AS/400 WAS: external *PRTF

Buck, your points are well taken.

What's stopping me?  As mentioned before, my ability to modernize my code is
limited by shop standards and by the lack of tools.  Any time I have the
option of writing RPG-III or RPG-IV, I'll always take RPG-IV.  I use API's
when appropriate.  I am going to learn Java one of these days when I have
the home PC horsepower that it requires.  

Any opportunity to learn new techniques / technology must be done pretty
much on my own time.  I have three young kids, so there has to be a balance.
Plus, it would be extremely helpful to know that I will actually be able to
use what I'm learning in the real world.  I haven't seen a whole lot of
openings for AS/400 Java programmers (read: none) in the Detroit area.

It's nice that you have a boss that gives you the freedom to choose your
"weapons".  Some of us aren't so fortunate.  I try to urge the laggards
along, but usually hit the F.U.D. wall.

- Dan Bale


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Buck Calabro [SMTP:buck.calabro@aptissoftware.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 3:02 PM
> To:   rpg400-l@midrange.com
> Subject:      RE: Modernising the AS/400  WAS: external *PRTF
> 
> Dan Bale wrote:
> 
> -snip about AS/400 shops being stuck in the past-
> 
> >This discussion has made the rounds before.  Not 
> >so much internal vs. external printer files, but the 
> >antiquation issues.  Jeez, how I would love to take 
> >advantage of some of the modern technologies the 
> >AS/400 has to offer.  Where are the leading-edge 
> >AS/400 shops?  They must be operating covertly 
> >in the Detroit area.  I'm tired of carrying the banner, 
> >trying to convince higher-ups to try new things.  
> >"Don't have the budget for it", "Too high a learning 
> >curve", "Have to train everybody", etc.
> 
> Dan,
> Not too long ago, I felt exactly as you do now.  Rather than write one of
> my
> typical rambling missives, let me ask you the questions I asked myself:
> What's stopping YOU from being more modern?  What's stopping YOU from
> implementing ideas from Bruce McConnell's book Code Complete?  I found
> that
> my employer has no idea what my code looks like and could care less, as
> long
> as it works.  I found that my co-workers are very, VERY happy to see
> working
> examples of familiar RPG III programs converted to RPG IV.  Be the change
> you want to see in your world.
> 
> I'm not picking on you - you stated the Modern vs Past argument the best,
> I
> think.  My remarks are directed to anybody who is waiting for somebody
> else
> to "bless" their efforts to move forward.
> 
> Buck Calabro
> Aptis; Albany, NY
> 
> p.s.  You can easily use S/36 techniques to emulate a subfile in O specs.
> You can also manipulate the 5250 datastream yourself with USRDFN formats.
> Does adding more code to the RPG program make it easier to write, read or
> modify?  Sometimes.  Usually not.
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