RE: Timing loop

["Simon Coulter" <shc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello James,

You wrote:
>I wonder if RPG can be built similar to other compiled languages.
>When building a program the compiler searches a path for objects to
>bind with (either dynamically or statically) to create the
>executable.  Specific directories can be specified.  A system value
>can be changed to include more or less directories than the default.
>This path means that directories don't need to be specified to build
>the executable.

It already does -- sort of.  The ILE compilers automatically know
where to find built-in functions and CEE functions.  They also know
where to find their own runtime support functions.  The CEE functions
are found using binding directories QILE and QLECWI.  The runtime
support for RPG is found using binding directory QRNXLE.  I suspect
you could add your own service programs and modules to QRNXLE or even
add all the QC2LE service programs.

>For example, all C programs link with libc.so (or libc.a).  But when
>compiling a program you never have to specify to the compiler to look
>in /lib to find it.  If the program being compiled also requires
>libm.so then the compiler automatically knows to link with that also.
>I am sure that the iSeries does something similar when building
>executables.  Could not this path be changeable to allow the compiler
>to automatically bind to those service programs it needs?

But I do have to tell the compiler where to find MY libraries (unless
I stick them in /lib too).  However, I think the suggestion has merit
and support for all compilers to automatically use a QUSRBD binding
directory would be a helpful thing.

Nested BNDDIRs would be useful too if we can avoid recursive
references.

However from RPG IV's perspective it is not difficult -- just code an
H-spec with the appropriate BNDDIR keyword.  COBOL is missing BNDDIR
on the PROCESS statement.  C is missing BNDDIR as a #pragma.

Regards,
Simon Coulter.

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