Re: Future of AS/400 ??????????????:(:

I would also agree that RPG can play a big part in web programming. In the
same way we have a broad range of AS400 models for various loads, there
are various tools, RPG included, that can do a wonderful job. There are
several resources within IBM for learning RPG/CGI, most notably the
easy400 site at http://195.183.8.2 (with free,working code).
Also tools like ProGen's WebSmart,the Lansa tool, and others, that generate
both RPG and HTML part for you. Not every shop can justify a WebSphere
environment, and the technicians to get it going. One size does not fit all.
I expect
to be very busy in RPG for years to come. But I have had to add HTML and
others to be able to do web work.
jim franz

----- Original Message -----
From: <Michael.Franchino@cussys.com>
To: <RPG400-L@midrange.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2001 11:57 AM
Subject: RE: Future of AS/400 ??????????????:(:


>
> I would have to agree with Gail's comments.. It is all upto what training
> that you can provide your in-house programming staff. My company has begun
> web based programming using the AS/400 and RPG.. Everyone says, including
> IBM, that that is not the correct way of doing this or that. You should
use
> Domino or Java. Well, if you are an RPG staff, you need to start
somewhere.
> I believe that it is important for your internal people learn "web"
> programming. That includes learning HTML, JavaScript and how to write
> detached programs. Also, as a pure RPG environment, we had little
> experience with SQL. Yeah, we could do simple queries and update data
> files, but we have taken it up a notch to learn more on SQL.
>
> If you can get training or bring in an external consultant to train your
> programmers on web programming, the only thing that you will have do to
> move into RPG web programming is either read a couple of books on the
> subject, or buy a tool that can greatly assist in creating your web pages.
> Learning these techniques will assist you in deciding if you want to
invest
> in learning Java and servlets, or using Domino, or that the RPG-CGI is
just
> fine.
>
> Michael Franchino
> Custom Systems Corporation
> (973) 383-7808 X214 (Phone)
> (973) 383-6398 (Fax)
>
>
>
>                     gcrane@johansonmf
>                     g.com                    To:     RPG400-L@midrange.com
>                     Sent by:                 cc:
>                     owner-rpg400-l@mi        Subject:     RE: Future of
AS/400 ??????????????:(:
>                     drange.com
>
>
>                     01/14/01 10:02 AM
>                     Please respond to
>                     RPG400-L
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I don't feel you were abrupt.  You said it like it really is.  Thank you.
> I
> also agree that EVERY IS Manager owes and has the responsibility of
> providing
> the best training for their people as possible and then allow them to use
> what
> they have learned.    What it all boils down to is MONEY and TIME.
> Definitely
> business is changing and WEB development is going into the next
> stage......getting to backend data.  That is where the RPG is going to
come
> into
> play.   Data integrity gets into a higher level now that we are visible
> from the
> outside world.  That puts more heat on our programmers to MAKE SURE it
> updates
> correctly and does not give you divide by zero errors, testing more
> important,
> etc.  The outside world would think your company is nuts if stuff is not
> top
> notch.   In our company, the focus is in building WEB interfaces for
> customers
> and reps, not developing new business applications in RPG.    We are only
a
> very
> small shop  so if the internet applications is the focus for us, you know
> for
> sure what it is for the big shops.  I don't believe RPG or the 400 is
going
> away
> completely, it just won't be the Big Cheese any more but just another
spoke
> in
> the wheel.  That in itself is demoralizing.  Who ever thought email would
> be
> more important than order entry & invoicing!  Times are changing and we
all
> will
> change with it.
>
> Off my soapbox now.
> Gail Crane
>
>
>
>
>
> "Richard Jackson" <richardjackson@richardjackson.net> on 01/13/2001
> 11:32:23 AM
>
> Please respond to RPG400-L@midrange.com
>
> To:   RPG400-L@midrange.com
> cc:    (bcc: Gail L Crane/Johanson/JMC)
>
> Subject:  RE: Future of AS/400 ??????????????:(:
>
>
>
> Suppose that you have an AS/400 and that you wanted to sell your company's
> products on a web site.  There are lots of ways to to that but suppose
that
> you want to use internal hardware and staff resources.  I believe that you
> might have difficulty finding RPG programmers that know how to get a web
> site working on an AS/400.  You will either employ contractors or hire new
> people who know how to do this.  Neither of these choices meets the
> original
> requirement for internal staff.  When they can get the site up, RPG is not
> the language of choice for creating web pages or generating HTML - CGI,
> Perl, and Java are much more common.  Most of the people who know how to
> create excellent web sites know those languages and know how to work in a
> Unix plus Windows environment - Unix for the Apache web host and CGI
> environment and Windows for the browser.  Your RPG programmers are still
> providing data to the DHTML apps but they aren't in the web business at
> all.
> So, I think that you will get your site up but, due to the limitations of
> internet time, your RPG people won't participate very much.  I think that
> you can figure out what that will mean for your staff morale.
>
> Of course you want us to stay current on everything.  Some of us want to
do
> that too.  But programmers live with changing requirements, deadlines, and
> develop robust and enduring cynicism.  You have your role to play - INSIST
> that your people are trained and that they get to use the new stuff.
Those
> that do not keep up are out.  If you fail to do that, you will get what I
> described above.  If you keep your people trained, you will have the
> internal resources to do the job yourself.  It will cost you money but you
> will keep the best people and they will be very valuable to you.
>
> I have reread this note a couple of times and it feels sort of abrupt and
> missing something important.  I regret the abruptness, I can't figure out
> how to remove it easily.  Perhaps I am lazy this morning.  If I knew what
> was missing I would add it.  Sorry.
>
> Richard Jackson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-rpg400-l@midrange.com [mailto:owner-rpg400-l@midrange.com]On
> Behalf Of gcrane@johansonmfg.com
> Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2001 4:47 AM
> To: RPG400-L@midrange.com
> Subject: Re: Future fo AS/400??????????????:(:
>
>
>
>
> I am an IS Manager....not technically literate.  What I want to know
> is.....
>
> What can you do with RPG that you can NOT do with other languages?
>
>  What can you do with other language that RPG can NOT do?
>
> When I speak to my technical people I am looking for business solutions
and
> trying to make the best LONG TERM investment for my company.  If I have
> technical staff that is not understanding other competing technologies and
> which
> is best for the job at hand, than I certainly do not feel confident that
my
> long
> term investment in that person (machine, language) is a good shot nor do I
> feel
> secure in advising my boss (the President) of the best direction for the
> company.  Get my drift.  I need and look for people who are self-educating
> themselves continually on various technologies.  They don't have to be
> experts
> but they have to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each and what
> it
> can
> or can't do for our company.  They we try to put the best tool to the job.
>
> I love the AS400 box and everything it has afforded for me and my company.
> NT
> is being pushed by every vendor.  Besides NT and Java, CGI, etc. is also
> the
> high push by internal people in my company for Lotus Notes solutions.  Is
> anyone
> keeping current with Lotus script?   So, I as manager and other managers
> have to
> make some hard decisions that impact you guys.  We NEED you to be literate
> in a
> variety of things and give us you unbiased opinions.  That is the only way
> ALL
> of us survive.
>
>
>
>
>
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