Re: Why we don't use procedures more (was MOVE opcode in freeform /strangebehavior w/%editc)

Hi Simon,

You have a very good point there, but (for my specific case at least) there
are some flaws:

I already consider myself reasonably good at RPG, ILE and stuff on V4R3,
but what I really would like to do is get started with the new V5R1 stuff.

Problem: there are (to my knowledge) no internet sites that offer
timesharing on a V5R1 box.

We _do_ have a v5 box at work, but it's a production system, and we cannot
use it to 'play around'.  We have to use our development box (v4r3) to do
this.

Staying late at night or coming over on a Sunday morning... Well, try
explaining that to my wife... She sees this as a job, not a career, you
know...

Reading a book.  Yeah right, like the book on Java for RPG programmers.  I
bought it, read (most of) it, and found the title not quite in accordance
with the contents: it should read 'Java for ILE gurus'.

News/400 (now iSeries News): read it each month, courtesy of my employer.
But reading about something can by now means compare to 'hands-on' trial
and error.

Freebies from IBM?  Not in Belgium, as far as I know...

Getting paid to use the new exciting stuff I've read about?  Yes, please.

As you can see, it's not my attitude, but the circumstances that stand in
my way.

Regards,

Peter Colpaert
Application Developer
Honda Europe NV
----------
Yoda of Borg are we: Futile is resistance. Assimilate you, we will.
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"Simon Coulter" <shc@flybynight.com.au>@midrange.com on 02/03/2002 02:40:46

Please respond to rpg400-l@midrange.com

Sent by:  rpg400-l-admin@midrange.com


To:   rpg400-l@midrange.com
cc:

Subject:  Re: Why we don't use procedures more (was MOVE opcode in freeform
      /strange behavior w/%editc)



Hello Peter,

You wrote:
><sarcasm>
>I guess you are one of those _many_ people who have a V5R1 AS/400 in their
>basement (or bedroom?).
></sarcasm>

There are at least three sites making AS/400 avalible via the Internet for
very low monthly access fees.  Search the archives.

But even if there weren't such sites, what is wrong with spending an extra
hour a night after your normal working hours exploring?  That's what I did
on the System/38 15 years ago.  Or give up one Sunday morning a month to
experiment at work.  That would be a far more productive use of a Sunday
morning than most of the alternatives.

The attitude exhibited by your post is typical of most AS/400 programmers
and indeed is part of the problem with the slow rate of adoption by our
community.  Too many AS/400 programmer's think they're in a JOB rather than
a CAREER and expect their employer to fund all their education.

Buy an ILE or RPG IV book and read it, subscribe to News/400 (or whatever
its now), if you are in the US you probably qualify for a free subscripton
to IBM's iSeries magazine.  Even without access to an AS/400 you can still
learn things, improve your skills, and -- shock horror -- might be able to
see where these new things would assist with your current work and then
actually get paid to use them.  Well Goooolllly!

Regards,
Simon Coulter.