RE: Strange behavior w/%editc()

["Joe Pluta" <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Well, no matter how impressed you are with your own brilliance, when it
> becomes obvious that programs won't convert to the new and
> improved syntax,
> don't be particularly surprised when there's some mean backlash from the
> existing programming base.

<sigh>  And I apologize for the brilliance wisecrack.  It has no place in
these forums.  But I get the idea sometimes that the rank and file RPG
programmer gets forgotten.  I get the idea people forget that the majority
of programmers don't have the time to learn a whole bunch of new opcodes and
BIFs and APIs because they're busy trying to get code out the door to meet
real business demands.  And no matter how cool the new stuff is, it's the
rank and file programmers who are the reason you and I still have jobs.

If it wasn't for the maintenance programmer who keeps a 20-year-old system
running as his business keeps upgrading through new platforms, then there
would be a LOT fewer businesses upgrading to those new platforms.  And when
management comes down and tells them they're going to have to switch to the
new syntax because IBM said they have to, well, you're just going to add a
whole lot of stress to what is probably the most underappreciated position
in our industry.

I mean picture this:

"Angie, I need you and Sam to convert our order entry to free-form RPG.  We
need it this week."

Do you at least have a conversion tool for those poor people?

So, yeah, I was out of line, Hans, and I apologize.  But I don't apologize
for caring about the maintenance programmers.  I was one once, and with our
economy the way it is, there's no guarantee I won't have to be one again one
day.  It's a tough job, and the last thing they need is another obstacle to
getting their job done.

Joe