RE: Cost of training.

[Buck Calabro <Buck.Calabro@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In terms of RPG (look Ma, I'm on topic!) programmers, the cost of training
is dwarfed by the cost of letting people run amok planting timebombs in
code.  It is incredibly common for someone to look up (or see on a mailing
list) a new opcode or BIF and then USE IT IN PRODUCTION CODE WITHOUT READING
THE MANUAL.  I'm not excited or anything.  It's Way Common to see somebody
use %SUBSTR(field: from: to) and then wonder aloud why the thing gives odd
results.

It is very common for a programmer to Believe that they understand the
details of an operation code/BIF just by knowing the name.  Look at the
donnybrook that EVAL started (think numeric precision.)  This 'yeah, yeah I
got it already' attitude can only be corrected with training, and the
mindset that 'I can always learn something new' which is what continuous
training helps provide.
  --buck

RPG IV ROCKS!