RE: question on survey question

["Bob Cozzi \(RPGIV\)" <cozzi@xxxxxxxxx>]

Simon,

Let me guess, you're running Windows 95 or 98 with no Service Packs
installed?
Actually, while I am a proponent of this (I would have voted yes) I
never intended to get in the this long theoretical debate based largely
on conjecture.

Bob Cozzi
cozzi@rpgiv.com
Visit the on-line  Midrange  Developer  forum at: http://www.rpgiv.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rpg400-l-admin@midrange.com [mailto:rpg400-l-admin@midrange.com]
On
> Behalf Of Simon Coulter
> Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2002 5:58 PM
> To: rpg400-l@midrange.com
> Subject: Re: question on survey question
>
>
> Hello Bob,
>
> You wrote:
> >I want the ability to use, under V5R1 and new enhancements to the RPG
IV
> >language that IBM provides in releases after V5R1, and to compile
source
> >code with those enhances to create objects that will run on V5R1.
> >The only exception would be things that are operating system release
> >dependant, like a new object type in the data base that RPG might
also
> >support, or for example, the Java integration the did in V5R1. But
when
> >a new built-in function or operation code is introduced, there is no
> >reason I should be dis-allowed to use that built-in function or
> >operation code on my V5R1 machine and compile code that runs on V5R1
> >from V5R1.
>
> Aside from the fact that I think the request is unreasonable I don't
think
> you have considered the impact.  Imagine:
>
> New feature %whizbang is provided at VRM540.  You desperately want to
use
> this feature and want it available for your customers on 530, 520, and
510
> -- NOTE:- by the time 540 arrives 510 and probably 520 will be out of
> official.
>
> Your desire will require IBM to provide PTFs for those prior releases
to
> make the %whizbang function available because many (most) of the BIFs
are
> implemented as functions.  So you require PTFs to the RPG run-time for
> 510, 520, and 530.  You may also require PTFs to the C runtime to
support
> the new feature because much of RPG IV is implemented as calls to
> functions in QC2UTILx service programs.
>
> An ILE program is not as simple in structure as the old MI programs so
> it's not as straightforward as simply allowing the 540 program to be
saved
> for and restored on an earlier release.  You cannot presume that BIFs
are
> simply converted to inline code.  The bulk of what you want will
require
> PTFs to implement.
>
> If you want source compatibility then you will require PTFs to the RPG
IV
> compiler at 510, 520, and 530.  Doing that will also require PTFs for
the
> CODE/400 verifier at the corresponding CODE/400 releases.
>
> You are also requiring your customers to install PTFs for no reason
other
> than to run your neat code.  Also, if IBM do provide such PTFs when
will
> customers EVER upgrade.  It's hard enough as it is to keep them
current.
>
> Since 510 and 520 would both probably be out of official support you
wnat
> IBM to continue PTFs for them just because a new feature is added to a
> later release?  That is more likely to slow the development of new
> features than give any real previous release benefits.
>
> The cost of all this to IBM would be horrendous.  Testing the fixes,
> building PTFs, distribution, etc.  And for what gain?  To make the
lives
> of a few software developers a bit easier?  You'll have to do better
than
> that.
>
> The real problem is developers who think they should be able to
support
> multiple releases with a single code base AND use all the new fangled
> language features.
>
> Further discussion, rebuttal, and argument should probably continue in
> MIDRANGE-L since the fundamental issue of previous release support is
not
> specifically RPG related.
>
> Regards,
> Simon Coulter.
>
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